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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON D.C. 20460
THE ADMINISTRATOR
EPA SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD
March 15, 2004
EPA-SAB-CON-04-003
The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Administrator
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Subject:
Dear Administrator Leavitt:
Consultation on the Office of Research and Development's
Framework for Computational Toxicology, A Science Advisory
Board Notification of a Consultation
This Consultation was conducted by a panel convened in response to a request by the
Agency's Office of Research and Development (ORD) that the Science Advisory Board (SAB)
provide a consultation on its Draft Document, "A Framework for a Computational Toxicology
Research Program in ORD." The Board formed an ad hoc Panel consisted of one member of
the SAB and twelve consultants.
The Framework was intended to be used by ORD to implement a research program, and
as a means of communicating the Agency's research needs in the area of computational
toxicology. Genomics, combined with computational methods and bioinformatics, can be used
to integrate modern computing and information technology with molecular biology and
chemistry, and help improve EPA's prioritization of data requirements and risk assessments for
toxics chemicals. ORD asked the panel to review the framework and provide advice on how
such research should be prioritized as ORD begins to shape a research program.
The SAB has developed the Consultation as a mechanism to advise the Agency on
technical issues that should be considered in the development of regulations, guidelines, or
technical guidance before the Agency has taken a position. There is no attempt or intent to
express an SAB consensus or to generate a formal position. Responses by individual panel
members to the Agency's charge questions are captured in the meeting minutes.
Overall, the Panel believes that the Framework was a good effort and should prove a
useful tool for furthering EPA's mission. The Panel recognizes that the EPA cannot do it all
with regard to computational toxicology research in the environmental area. Partnering with
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other agencies on fundamental biology issues relevant to creating the scientific foundation for
systems biology and molecular pathways applications to computational toxicology are essential.
As is our customary practice, there will be no formal report from the SAB as a result of
this Consultation, nor do we expect any formal response from the Agency.
Sincerely,
/Signed/ /Signed/
Dr. William Glaze, Chair Dr. George Lucier, Chair
EPA Science Advisory Board Computational Toxicology Framework
Panel
EPA Science Advisory Board
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NOTICE
This report has been written as part of the activities of the EPA Science Advisory Board,
a public advisory group providing extramural scientific information and advice to the
Administrator and other officials of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Board is
structured to provide balanced, expert assessment of scientific matters related to problems facing
the Agency. This report has not been reviewed for approval by the Agency and, hence, the
contents of this report do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency, nor of other agencies in the Executive Branch of the Federal government, nor
does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute a recommendation for use.
Reports of the Council are posted on the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Science Advisory Board
Computational Toxicology Framework Consultation Panel
CHAIR
Dr. George Lucier, Consulting Toxicologist, Pittsboro, NC
MEMBERS
Dr. Melvin Andersen, Director, Department of Biomathematics and Physical Science, CUT
Centers for Health Research, Research Triangle Park, NC
Dr. John Balbus, Director, Environmental Health Program, Environmental Defense,
Washington, DC
Dr. Richard Becker, Senior Director, Public Health, American Chemistry Council, Arlington,
VA
Dr. Patricia Billig, Environmental Toxicologist, Waterstone Environmental Hydrology &
Engineering, Boulder, CO
Dr. Stuart Cagen, Toxicology Advisor, Shell Chemical LP, Houston, TX
Dr. Harvey Clewell, Principal, ENVIRON Health Sciences Institute, Ruston, LA
Dr. Darrell Donahue, Associate Professor, Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of
Maine, Orono, ME
Dr. Alex Merrick, Toxicologist, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC
Dr. Charles Pittinger, Principal, The Cadmus Group, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
Dr. Clifford P. Weisel, Professor, Environmental and Community Medicine. Robert Wood
Johnson Medical School-UMDNJ, Piscataway, NJ
Dr. Angela Wilson, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas,
Denton, TX
Dr. Andrew Worth, Scientific Officer, Joint Research Center, Institute for Health & Consumer
Protection, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD STAFF
Dr. James Rowe, Designated Federal Officer, Washington, DC, 20460
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Science Advisory Board
CHAIR
Dr. William H. Glaze, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR
VICE CHAIR
Dr. Domenico Grasso, Smith College, Northampton, MA
MEMBERS
Dr. Gregory Biddinger, Exxon Mobil Refining and Supply Company, Fairfax, VA
Dr. James Bus, The Dow Chemical Company, Mildland, MI
Dr. Trudy Ann Cameron, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Dr. Maureen L. Cropper, The World Bank, Washington, DC
Dr. Kenneth Cummins, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Dr. Virginia Dale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Dr. Baruch Fischhoff, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. A. Myrick Freeman, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
Dr. James Galloway, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Dr. Linda Greer, Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, DC
Dr. Philip Hopke, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Dr. James H. Johnson, Howard University, Washington, DC
Dr. Meryl Karol, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. Roger E. Kasperson, Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm,
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Dr. Catherine Kling, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Dr. George Lambert, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/ University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
Dr. Jill Lipoti, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Ewing, NJ
Dr. Genevieve Matanoski, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Dr. Michael J. McFarland, Utah State University, River Heights, UT
Dr. M. Granger Morgan, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. Rebecca Parkin, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Dr. David Rejeski, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC
Dr. Kristin Shrader-Frechette, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Dr. William H. Smith, Yale University, Center Harbor, NH
Dr. Deborah Swackhamer, University of Minnesota,, Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Thomas Theis, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Dr. Valerie Thomas, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Dr. R. Rhodes Trussell, Trussell Technologies, Inc., Pasadena, CA
Dr. Robert Twiss, University of California-Berkeley, Ross, CA
Dr. Lauren Zeise, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, CA
SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD STAFF
Mr. Thomas Miller, Designated Federal Officer, Washington, DC
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