Maria Pellizzaro

Background

About Maria Pellizzaro

I am currently a Managing Scientist in Exponent’s Health Sciences Centre for Chemical Regulation and Food Safety. I have extensive knowledge of many in silico methods (QSAR); including Derek Nexus, Leadscope, OECD QSAR Toolbox, TEST, VEGA, ToxTree and ECOSAR, for the prediction of various toxicity endpoints, including genotoxicity. Genotoxicity predictions are used in the assessment of crop metabolites (EFSA Guidance on the establishment of the residue definition for dietary risk assessment) and impurities (Guidance document on the assessment of the equivalence of technical materials of substances regulated under regulation (EC) No 1107/2009). I also have experience in a wide range of human health exposure models for pesticides, biocides and industrial and consumer chemicals, for use both at European Union and individual Member State Level. I have developed strategies to address specific regulatory toxicology and exposure concerns, which have included the use of higher tier exposure assessment approaches. After completing a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, which involved the synthesis of small molecules and NMR analysis of their intermolecular interactions, I worked at Lhasa Limited which develops QSAR software. Whilst at Lhasa I specialised in writing structural alerts for various toxicological endpoints, including skin sensitisation and mutagenicity. I also gained experience in in vitro dermal absorption studies.