Inhalation Toxicology Trailblazers: Charting a New Path to Improve NAMs for Evidence Integration

Inhalation toxicology is rapidly evolving with the emergence of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) designed to enhance the relevance, efficiency, and ethical foundations of inhalation toxicity testing for this important route of exposure in risk assessment. This shift was clearly reflected at the 2025 Association of Inhalation Toxicologists Annual Conference, where numerous speakers and poster presentations focused on the development and application of NAMs.

This research topic invites original articles, reviews, and perspectives that advance the use of NAMs in inhalation toxicity testing. Building on invited contributions from the 2025 Association of Inhalation Toxicologists Annual Conference, this collection aims to showcase innovative research, best practices, and collaborative strategies transforming the field.

We welcome submissions addressing:

o Challenges of generation and characterization for NAM exposure systems;

o Inhalation dosimetry in vitro models;

o Development and validation of in vitro, in silico, and animal-free assays for inhalation toxicity assessment;

o Computational models for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE);

o Strategies for evidence integration using NAMs;

o Case studies demonstrating the use of NAMs in the risk assessment of airborne pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and consumer products;

o Evaluation of uncertainties in translation;

o Cross-sector collaborations and translational initiatives to advance NAMs.

By gathering the latest research and expert insights presented at the AIT 2025 conference, this topic seeks to accelerate the adoption of NAMs for inhalation toxicity assessment and strengthen the global inhalation toxicology community.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Inhalation Toxicology, Respiratory Toxicology, airborne chemicals, inhaled substances

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.