Board of Scientific Counselors Chemical Safety for Sustainability and Health and Environmental Risk Assessment National Research Programs CSS National Research Program Review Charge Questions


U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development
Board of Scientific Counselors Subcommittee
Chemical Safety for Sustainability and
Health and Environmental Risk Assessment National Research Programs
Virtual Meeting on February 2-5, 2021

CSS National Research Program Review Charge Questions

Introduction: The February 2021 meeting of the CSS-HERA Subcommittee of the Board of Scientific
Counselors (BOSC) will review that portion of the CSS portfolio involved in the development and
application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The focus of the review is on the implementation
of research and development that was outlined at the strategic level in the CSS Strategic Research
Action Plan for FY19-22, as previously reviewed by the BOSC.

Charge Question 1

The CSS portfolio advances New Approach Methods (NAMs) across multiple research areas related to
chemical evaluation and risk assessment. CSS Session 1 presents selected research activities to highlight
NAMs development for hazard evaluation, exposure, ecotoxicology, and human-system models. Please
provide specific suggestions or recommendations to improve approaches to advance the development
and testing of NAMs conducted under the CSS program.

Charge Question 2

A key long-term objective of the CSS program is to increase the pace of chemical assessment through
the incorporation of NAMs into decision making by EPA programs and regions and other stakeholders.
CSS Session 2 presents examples of NAMs implementation that address specific, articulated needs of
Agency partners. Please comment on the extent to which these selected research activities have the
appropriate approach, structure, and components to increase confidence in, and to facilitate use of,
NAMs in Agency decision making.

Charge Question 3

CSS continues to develop and evolve multiple publicly-available data resources, analytical tools, and
predictive models to facilitate the dissemination and use of chemical-safety information tailored to
meeting specific user's needs. The long-term intent is for these CSS-supported platforms to provide a
comprehensive resource to support the needs of our partners. CSS Session 3 presents examples of CSS
information resources, models, and tools. Please provide suggestions or recommendations regarding
how these CSS products can be improved and best implemented to serve EPA partners and external
stakeholders?

CSS-HERA BOSC MEETING FEBRUARY 2-5, 2021

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HERA National Research Program Review Charge Questions

Charge Question 1:

As NAMs' science advances, risk assessors still encounter many chemicals with little-to-no

data that require assessment. Research is required to translate and build confidence in the application

of these NAMs in HERA science assessment contexts. Building on the case study examples,

please provide suggestions or recommendations on how the planned research can best advance

the integration of NAM data streams and approaches in HERA science assessments. [Research Area 3,

Output 3.1]

Charge Question 2:

Incorporating the principles of systematic review into the HERA portfolio of assessment products has
been a goal of the HERA program for the last several years. In order to achieve this
goal, the HERA program intends to advance the field of systematic review more broadly. Based on the
progress to date and currently planned products, what suggestion(s) or recommendation(s) does the
Subcommittee offer on HERA's research to advance methods for systematic review? [Research Area 3,
Output 3.4]

Charge Question 3:

Dose-response modeling is a critical step in human health assessment. Existing
methods have improved upon older methodologies; however, unresolved issues, uncertainties, and
complications remain that require targeted research. HERA has planned research products that will
result in dose-response methods that are more precise, robust, and meet varied needs. Noting the
examples provided, please comment on the extent to which

these planned products address important issues in dose-response modeling for application to risk
assessment, and ways this research might be augmented? What suggestion(s) or recommendation(s)
does the Subcommittee offer to continue to advance methods in dose-response modeling with an
application to risk assessment? [Research Area 3, Output 3.5 and Research Area 4, Output 4.1]

CSS-HERA BOSC MEETING FEBRUARY 2-5, 2021

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