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Mission & Goals
Basic Information
The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, formulates and implements a comprehensive research program to investigate the effects of environmental pollutants and other anthropogenic stresses on human health and the ecosystems in which we live.
NHEERL is the focal point for toxicological, clinical, epidemiological, ecological, and biogeographic research within the Environmental Protection Agency. To improve the scientific underpinnings of EPA's risk assessments and regulatory policy decisions, NHEERL scientists create and apply:
- Biological assays and toxicologic assessment methods
- Predictive pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models
- Ecosystem function theory
- Advanced extrapolation methods
In addition to its intramural research, the NHEERL fosters cooperative research projects with academic and other scientific institutions to complement NHEERL mission-oriented efforts as well as to insure that the Agency has the benefit of the highest quality peer-reviewed science.
Long-term research components define and characterize toxicological hazards, quantify dose response and other important cause-effect relationships, and assess the integrity and sustainability of ecosystems. In addition, NHEERL scientists serve as scientific advisors/reviewers in providing technical assistance to Program Offices, Regions, States, Tribes, other ORD national laboratories, senior Agency managers, Agency workgroups, and interagency task forces. NHEERL also provides national and international leadership in identifying and resolving important human and ecological issues and by influencing the research planning/priorities of other research organizations.
NHEERL's mission embraces three objectives. Pursuit of these objectives enable NHEERL to secure and expand its position as a premier environmental research institution.
- Perform human health and ecological effects research of the highest scientific quality in support of the risk assessment needs of the Agency
- Demonstrate leadership in identifying, studying, and resolving important environmental health and ecological effects issues and in establishing the environmental research agenda
- Provide scientific and technical assistance to EPA Program and Regional Offices and to local, state, regional, national, and international governments and organizations
Effects Research
Critical features of NHEERL's effects research include:
- A coherent research strategy founded on principles of risk assessment
- A multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, providing opportunities for harmonization of research efforts
- A diverse and dynamic workforce conducting cutting-edge research to resolve effects-based health and ecology issues
- Highly specialized facilities, including high-hazard chemical containment facilities, state-of-the-art inhalation exposure chambers for use in human studies, and programmable growth chambers for terrestrial plant studies
- A commitment to scientific excellence involving rigorous peer review, strict QA guidelines, and recruitment of highly qualified scientists
In addition to its in-house efforts, NHEERL administers an extramural program through cooperative agreements, contracts, and interagency agreements. These collaborative mechanisms draw upon the expertise of preeminent researchers in academia, industry, and other government organizations.
Leadership
NHEERL scientists are leaders in the environmental research arena and are actively involved in the scientific community. This leadership role is demonstrated in numerous ways that include:
- Elected and appointed positions in professional and scientific societies
- Appointed to editorial review boards, peer review committees, planning committees, and advisory boards
- Chair symposia and scientific meetings
- Author (and review) critical publications and test guidelines
- Serve as mentors for graduate students and as adjunct faculty members at major universities across the nation
The collective contribution of these activities affords NHEERL the opportunity to exert considerable influence on the direction and priorities of environmental research worldwide.
Assistance
The expertise and agency-oriented perspective of NHEERL's scientists place them in a unique position to respond to diverse requests for scientific advice and technical consultation. NHEERL reseachers:
- Serve as advisors to EPA Program Offices and Regional Offices, to other ORD laboratories, to other federal agencies, and to interagency task forces
- Provide environmental guidance to local, state, native American, and international governments
- Establish partnerships with corporate, public, private, and educational sectors to disseminate research results and to provide technical training
By sharing its skills and knowledge, NHEERL enhances the ability of other organizations to safeguard public health and the environment, and serves as a catalyst for scientific and technological progress.