About us...

Welcome to Toxalim, the Institute for Research in Food Toxicology.

We are a joint research unit affiliated with INRAE, the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, and the University of Toulouse. Our unit includes 37 researchers and research professors, 59 research engineers and technicians (including support staff), as well as 90 PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, contract engineers and technicians, and student interns.

Food represents a major route of exposure to various chemical contaminants, neo-formed products, and toxins, which are often associated with diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders, developmental disturbances, and immune dysfunctions.
At Toxalim, our goal is to contribute to a better understanding of the risks associated with these foodborne contaminants and to provide solutions that support public policy.

Our research is structured around three main areas:

➤ Identification and characterization of hazards
We focus in particular on emerging hazards, adopting an integrative approach that considers the entire life cycle, with special attention to nutritional imbalances and critical periods such as development.

➤ Study of mechanisms of action
Our research follows a multi-scale approach, examining the effects of contaminants at the cellular and tissue levels, taking into account the physiopathological states of individuals or animals, particularly during developmental phases or according to their metabolic status.

➤ Development of remediation and prevention strategies
We investigate the potentially beneficial effects of food sources rich in bioactive compounds (antioxidants, pro-, pre-, and postbiotics), with the aim of developing innovative nutritional prevention strategies.