The Science Advisory Board Executive Committee met with The Health Effects Institute (HEI) at its July 10-11, 1986 meeting to discuss several issues of mutual interest. Following the discussions a consensus was reached on the following; (1) The Committee concluded that there was a need for a more systematic relationship between SAB and HEI, but both organizations ought to continue to maintain their independence from each other in the course of their mutual integration; (2) A reasonable balance between independence and integration is for SAB to regularly invite WEI selected representatives as observers to its reviews of EPA research programs. Reciprocally HEI could periodically brief SAB committees on its ongoing research program.