EPA Communities of Practice
Biological Modeling Working Group (BMWG)

Community of Practice

The EPA Biological Modeling Working Group is proposed to be formed in Summer 2005 to advance the principals for development and application of dosimetry and other biologically based models within the Agency. Dosimetry modeling includes multiple forms of toxicokinetic modeling (e.g., physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling, compartmental modeling), respiratory tract dosimetry modeling (e.g., computational fluid dynamics), and related modeling (e.g., dermal absorption modeling). The working group will also focus on biologically based response modeling with special emphasis on using the newest "omics" information in biologically based models . The goal of this work group is to foster adoption of modeling science by Agency clients in regulatory decision making. A cross-ORD group that also has representation from outside of ORD can carry great influence throughout the Agency, helping assure that ORD efforts are viewed as relevant and important to the Agency mission.

The work group would include representatives of the ORD Labs and Centers with expertise in this area and have a representative from the Risk Forum. The BMWG would draw on the expertise of other scientists within ORD and the Agency as needed for specific issues. The BMWG would ask the Risk Forum to provide broader Agency-wide comment and review on specific matters as it determined necessary. Committee members would serve for a period of two years, following which the lab/center would renew their membership or appoint a new member.

The charter of the BMWG includes the following functions:

Facilitate communication and co-ordination among the ORD biological modelers to foster their role as the major technical resource for the Agency in this area.
Develop consensus positions around issues for how analyses are conducted using models to provide consistency (e.g., processes for application of uncertainty factors in non-cancer evaluation, methods for using models to describe population distributions, durations over which AUC is calculated)
Develop consensus positions around issues of model evaluation and documentation to provide assistance to model developers inside and outside the Agency.
Develop recommendations for research needs to be addressed by ORD labs and centers (e.g., methods for statistically evaluating alternative model structures and characterizing model output uncertainties)
Facilitate the development of training materials and programs for chemical managers and risk assessors that assist in the implementation of these technologies.
As the science advances develop recommendations and guidance on the use of omics information to enhance dosimetry and pharmacodynamic models
Facilitate communication to the larger modeling and scientific on issues for modeling and applications to risk assessment (e.g., SOT symposia, specialty meetings)

The work group will:

Hold meetings: quarterly to identify issues/projects to be taken on and discuss progress
Organize internal meeting/conference calls around specific issues/projects with goal of identifying state of the science, research needs, consensus positions.
Prepare publications for peer-reviewed literature on specific issues/topics.
Identify research needs that could be addressed internally or through extramural contracts or grants.
Organize outreach to broader modeling and scientific community to demonstrate EPA's interest and obtain input and participation
Report regularly (every six months) to the ORD science council on issues, progress, and outputs
The group's representative from the Risk Assessment Forum will request time on the Forum's Agenda to brief regular Forum members of issues, progress, and outputs.

EPA Communities of PracticeBiological Modeling Working Group (BMWG)

Community of Practice

The charter of the BMWG includes the following functions:

The work group will:

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EPA Communities of Practice
Biological Modeling Working Group (BMWG)