Information Sciences
ILS' Information Science Program can assist in all stages of data acquisition, management and analysis. Our scientists have extensive experience in toxicology, chemistry, exposure risk assessment, molecular biology, alternative test methods and database development. We provide high level expertise in data procurement and assessment, database design, data management/visualization and scientific writing. Software tools are designed for comparative analysis of data from multiple studies across different endpoints.
Literature Search
- Customize search methods and format reports to match your needs
- Integrate key studies and critical data from disparate sources, including peer-reviewed publications, patents, and unpublished abstracts
- Draft toxicological reviews of agents that include background information, regulatory standards, and toxicological data
- Prepare chemical information reviews that provide concise summaries of toxicological review and comply with regulatory guidelines (e.g., OECD, EFSA)
- Probe the toxicological profile of small molecules and natural products without incurring costs associated with chemical synthesis, wet lab experiments, and animal studies
- Improve understanding of mechanisms of toxicity and structure-activity-relationships
Document Preparation
- Prepare chemical dossiers that provide concise summaries of toxicological review
- Assist government agencies and other clients with exposure analysis, hazard identification, and risk assessments/safety evaluations
- Interpret toxicogenomic and related data for integration with conventional toxicology
- Apply molecular signatures with pathophysiological phenotypes for classifying chemical modes of action
- Identify critical target genes and key events that contribute to specific cancers
- Integrate data for a better understanding of gene-environment interactions in the development of human disease
- Edit and review scientific documents to ensure scientific credibility
Database Development
- Design customized databases including tools for data mining, analysis, and visualization
- Customize databases to client specifications for data analysis, entry, annotation and import/export
- Design data mining and query options that generate summaries and displays in tables, charts, graphs, etc.
- Design drill-down functions to view detailed data from individual studies
- Relevant projects have included: NIEHS Genetic Alterations in Cancer (GAC) Database, U.S. EPA/IARC Genetic Activity Profile Database, EPA Inhalation Toxicity Database
- Programming Languages: ASP, C++, CGI, COBOL, ColdFusion, DHTML, EJP, FORTRAN, ISAPI, JAVA, JavaScript, JSP, MFC, MTS, Perl, QBASIC, Servlet, Swing, Visual Basic, and XML
- Development Tools: Rational Rose (OOAD CASE Tool), Developer 2000, ERWin, and VISIO 2000
- Database and Web Servers: Oracle, MS SQL, DB2, DBIV, Access, IIS, Apache, iPlanet, WebSphere, Jrun, Weblogic, .NET, and Site Server Operating Systems: UNIX/LINUX, Os10, Windows XP, and Novell
Geographical Information Systems
- Traditional GIS and mapping services;
- Development of scalable internet mapping;
- Custom programming and GIS application development;
- Database design and management; and
- Geospatial consulting services.
Lead Scientist
David Allen, Ph.D.
As the Chief of Staff at ILS, Dr. Allen is responsible for leading, managing, and supervising all technical divisions and programs. He works closely with all scientific staff to support the planning and execution of ILS growth plans, and leads staff planning and employee development. Dr. Allen has over 15 years of experience in regulatory toxicology, test method validation, and in vitro biology. Prior to joining ILS, he was a toxicologist for the Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where he was responsible for evaluating toxicological and pharmacological data for investigational new drug applications. Once at ILS, Dr. Allen spent over 7 years providing contract support for the National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), including 5 years as the Principal Investigator. In 2008, he became the Director of the Division of Environmental and Regulatory Sciences, which included oversight of NICEATM and the Environmental Sciences program. Dave received his B.S. in Zoology from North Carolina State University, his M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and his Ph.D. in Cell Biology also from North Carolina State University.