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HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, NATIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS RESEARCH LABORATORY
Citation:
Barton, H A., H A. Tilson, R J. Preston, A D. Kligerman, L S. Birnbaum, J E. Simmons, J Vandenberg, Huang, YuhChin T, S J. Padilla, S Barone, R J. Kavlock, AND D J. Dix. HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, NATIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS RESEARCH LABORATORY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-03/069 (NTIS PB2005-110709), 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development (ORD), is responsible for conducting research to improve the risk assessment of chemicals for potential effects on human health. This research is intended to address key Agency problems in a timely and responsive manner. To meet this responsibility, NHEERL is developing research implementation plans to achieve the following objectives: 1) optimize responsiveness of research activities to Agency needs, 2) sharpen the focus of research programs where needed, 3) provide a forum for engagement of scientific staff on issues and approaches, 4) focus on multi-year planning explicitly linked to Agency performance goals, and 5) provide a mechanism for prioritizing research. This approach builds on the ORD planning process that identifies and prioritizes research needs. Current areas for research include protection of susceptible subpopulations, harmonization of risk assessment approaches, and improving aggregate and cumulative risk assessment in support of the Agency's Program and Regional Offices and legislative mandates, including the Safe Water Drinking Water Act, Clear Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, and Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
Description:
The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development (ORD), is responsible for conducting research to improve the risk assessment of chemicals for potential effects on human health. This research is intended to address key Agency problems in a timely and responsive manner. To meet this responsibility, NHEERL is developing research implementation plans to achieve the following objectives:
Optimize responsiveness of research activities to Agency needs, sharpen the focus of research programs where needed, provide a forum for engagement of scientific staff on issues and approaches, focus on multi-year planning explicitly linked to Agency performance goals, and
provide a mechanism for prioritizing research.
This approach builds on the ORD planning process that identifies and prioritizes research needs. Current areas for research include protection of susceptible subpopulations, harmonization of risk assessment approaches, and improving aggregate and cumulative risk assessment in support of the Agency's Program and Regional Offices and legislative mandates, including the Safe Water Drinking Water Act, Clear Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, and Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
This document identifies the scientific problems and research that will be conducted concerning human health. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop scientifically valid approaches for improving human health risk assessment. This document was developed by representatives from NHEERL research divisions and peer-reviewed by scientists from other ORD laboratories and centers and EPA Regional and Program Offices. This document was also reviewed by scientists external to the Agency. This implementation plan is intended to reflect research that will be conducted over the next several years. As progress is made in achieving the goals outlined in this document, it will be updated to address new and remaining human health challenges.