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Human Health Research Program
Research Programs
Mission
To provide the methods, tools, and data needed to build a strong foundation for conducting risk assessments to protect public health and to improve understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that underlie how humans can be affected by environmental pollutants.
Contact
Sally Darney (darney.sally@epa.gov)
Acting National Program Director
Human Health Research Program
For more information, visit the Human Health Research Program.
Science Overview
The Human Health Research Program in EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) is providing the tools and scientific knowledge needed to improve the ability to assess risks and protect public health. Through an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, the basic research program is unlocking the mysteries of key biological, chemical, and physical processes that occur when humans are exposure to chemicals in their environment.
The program coordinates fundamental research to fill gaps in scientific knowledge that will ultimately improve assessment of public health risks and solve today's environmental problems. Discoveries in human health research provide the tools needed to confront and address future environmental issues.
The program is organized around four main long-term goals to address areas of research needed to advance risk assessment capabilities:
Biological (Mechanistic) Research: To understand underlying biological processes triggered when people are exposed to environmental contaminants.
Cumulative Risk Research: To evaluate what happens when we are exposed to the many chemical mixtures in our environment.
Susceptible Subpopulation Research: To protect the aging population, children, and those with chronic disease by providing new insights into how pollutants may affect their health.
Tools for Evaluating Risk Management Decisions: To develop measurement tools and biological indicators needed to assess the impact of regulatory decisions on public health.