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Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences


Background on PAVA
The need to more efficiently analyze human chemical disposition data derived from in vivo studies or in silico physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling efforts, and to see complex disposition data in a logical and clearly engaging manner, has created a unique opportunity for visual analytics applied to physiologically-annotated data (PAD).

What is PAVA v1.0?
Physiological and Anatomical Visual Analytics (PAVA v1.0) is an easily accessible, Web browser-based application that is used to visualize user-provided physiologically annotated data (PAD) from a variety of sources. PAVA v1.0 is the first stand-alone Web-based visual analytics tool that is freely distributed to the scientific community to support the development, validation, and communication of PAD.

EPA scientists developed PAVA to enhance ongoing growth and application of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for chemical risk management.

PAVA v1.0 goes beyond fish and rat models, and advances visual analytics by rendering pharmaco- and toxico-informatics on a human anatomy. PAVA v1.0 capitalizes on open-source platform concept used in social visual analytics. (e.g., Viegas, et. al. ManyEyes: a Site for Visualization at Internet Scale. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Vol. 13, No. 6. (5 Nov. 2007), pp. 1121-1128. )

PAVA v1.0 does not create the data for models, and is not a modeling application itself. Currently PAVA v1.0 only includes representations of the human anatomy and physiology. Future versions may contain additional genus or species.

How does PAVA v1.0 work?
PAVA v1.0 employs user-provided physiologically annotated data (e.g., tissue concentration) or their associated statistics (e.g., variance, median, maximum, etc.). The PAVA v1.0 tool then generates two visual representation formats:

  • A physiological matrix format, and
  • A time-series, multi-organ human anatomical animation in GIF format

PAVA v1.0 accepts physiologically annotated data (PAD) from:

  • Experimental or modeled (simulated) chemical time-course data (dosimetry), and
  • Epidemiological data and anthropometric data

PAVA v1.0 uses a continuous color mapping scheme to cast spatial (organ shape and location) and temporal (time-course / kinetics) data onto an abstract, layered, two-dimensional visual representation of the human anatomy and physiology.

PAVA v1.0 accepts both positive and negative values (for use in comparing two models, or two scenarios) to provide differential anatomy-based animations.

Related Publications

Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by EPA.

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