Associate Director for Health

The Associate Director for Health (ADH), reporting to the National Laboratory Director, has delegated authority to act for the National Director on health science issues and to represent the National Director in his absence on these matters.

The ADH is responsible for providing leadership for the health effects research program including application of ORD policies and guidelines and allocated resources for research programs to define the exposure-effect relationships between, and to develop data, on the health effects of environmental pollutants, acting singly or in combination, using toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological studies to delineate the contribution of environmental exposures to illness/disease including especially susceptible populations; assists in the development of broad research policy and program guidelines and long-range plans; recommends specific projects and programs, including the resources and schedules required to accomplish them. Upon obtaining the resources, carries out the work either through its own facilities and field stations or other research organizations; provides technical assistance to Agency components, as requested, within the resources allocated for this purpose; assures that the results of its work meet peer-review standards and are disseminated according to ORD guidelines; provides the administrative and financial framework to assure that the activities of the Laboratory meet Agency and Federal government requirements.

The ADH also participates on interagency, national, or international committees or panels; plans, develops, organizes, directs, and implements a number of national research programs for which the Laboratory has Agency-wide responsibility; and represents the NHEERL on Agency committees for the purpose of assessing the relevance of on-going research and to plan future approaches and emphasis.

The ADH promotes the reputation and influence of the program through participation and interaction with scientists and organizations conducting health research nationally and internationally.

There are five research Divisions that combine efforts under the ADH to meet the research goals for health effects research at the Laboratory: the Human Studies Division; the Neurotoxicology Division, the Reproductive Toxicology Division, the Experimental Toxicology Division, and the Environmental Carcinogenesis Division.