Interdisciplinary curriculum reform in toxicology and environmental health education: a case study from the University of Alcalá.

Toxicology plays a critical role in safeguarding public health and the environment, yet its visibility and integration within higher education curricula in Europe have declined over recent decades. At the University of Alcalá (UAH, Spain), a comprehensive strategy has been developed to revitalise toxicology education through curriculum integration, experiential learning, and pedagogical innovation. This review presents a detailed analysis of undergraduate and postgraduate toxicology training at UAH, highlighting its alignment with evolving European Union policies such as the Green Deal and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Key initiatives include interdisciplinary CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) preparedness courses, pre-university toxicology rotations, gamified tools like ToxiGame©, and high-fidelity forensic simulations. These interventions aim to address educational gaps in risk assessment, regulatory toxicology, and emergency preparedness, while enhancing student engagement and employability. The UAH model demonstrates how toxicology can be effectively embedded into diverse programmes, including Pharmacy, Environmental Sciences, Criminalistics, and Medicine, in a manner that is scalable, policy-relevant, and responsive to emerging health threats. This work contributes to international efforts to modernise toxicology education and may serve as a blueprint for institutions aiming to strengthen workforce readiness in CBRN safety and environmental health.