The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program: a model for multidisciplinary training of the next generation of environmental health scientists

AbstractThe National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) funds university-based, multidisciplinary research on human health and environmental science and engineering with the central goals to understand how hazardous substances contribute to disease and how to prevent exposures to these environmental chemicals. This multi-disciplinary approach allows early career scientists (e.g. graduate students and postdoctoral researchers) to gain experience in problem-based, solution-oriented research and to conduct research in a highly collaborative environment. Training the next generation of environmental health scientists has been an important part of the SRP since its inception. In addition to basic research, the SRP has grown to include support of broader training experiences such as those in research translation and community engagement activities that provide opportunities to give new scientists many of the skills they will need to be successful in their field of research. Looking to the future, the SRP will continue to evolve its training component by tracking and analyzing outcomes from its trainees by using tools such as the NIEHS CareerTrac database system, by increasing opportunities for trainees interested in research that goes beyond US boundaries, and in the areas of bioinformatics and data integration. These opportunities will give them the skills needed to be competitive and successful no matter which employment sector they choose to enter after they have completed their training experience.

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The Importance of Community Engagement and Research Translation within the NIEHS Superfund Research Program

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173067 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3067 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brittany A. Trottier ◽

Danielle J. Carlin ◽

Michelle L. Heacock ◽

Heather F. Henry ◽

William A. Suk

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Research Program ◽

Hazardous Substances ◽

Research Translation ◽

Engineering Research ◽

Environmental Health Sciences ◽

History Of ◽

Research Findings ◽

Use Of Research

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program (SRP) funds university-based, solution-oriented research to understand how hazardous substances contribute to disease and how to prevent exposures to these hazardous substances. A unique aspect of the SRP is that, beyond the biomedical, environmental sciences, and engineering research projects, SRP-funded centers are required to include community engagement to build partnerships with affected communities and research translation to communicate and facilitate the use of research findings. The SRP views both as effective ways to inform and advance science for protection of public health. The purpose of community engagement within the centers is to ensure bidirectional communication between the researchers and the community, identify best practices and activities in community engagement for prevention and intervention activities, enhance knowledge, and support the needs of the communities impacted by hazardous waste sites. The SRP views research translation as communicating and facilitating the use of research findings emanating from the center in a manner most appropriate for their application and for the advancement of a center’s research objectives. The SRP has a strong history of seeking opportunities to work with communities and stakeholders, by translating and sharing research findings in an impactful and informative manner with long-lasting benefits to improve public health.

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Toward the Assessment of Scientific and Public Health Impacts of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Extramural Asthma Research Program Using Available Data

Environmental Health Perspectives ◽

10.1289/ehp.0800476 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 117 (7) ◽

pp. 1147-1154 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Edward Liebow ◽

Jerry Phelps ◽

Bennett Van Houten ◽

Shyanika Rose ◽

Carlyn Orians ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Environmental Health ◽

Research Program ◽

Health Sciences ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Environmental Health Sciences

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Greater than the sum of its parts: focusing SRP research through a systems approach lens

Reviews on Environmental Health ◽

10.1515/reveh-2020-0073 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

William A. Suk ◽

Michelle Heacock ◽

Danielle J. Carlin ◽

Heather F. Henry ◽

Brittany A. Trottier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Health ◽

Data Science ◽

Environmental Science ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Hazardous Substances ◽

Research Translation ◽

Engineering Research ◽

Environmental Health Sciences ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Big Picture

AbstractThe National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program (SRP) funds diverse transdisciplinary research to understand how hazardous substances contribute to disease. SRP research focuses on how to prevent these exposures by promoting problem-based, solution-oriented research. SRP's mandate areas encompasses broad biomedical and environmental science and engineering research efforts and, when combined with research translation, community engagement, training, and data science, offers broad expertise and unique perspectives directed at a specific big picture question. The purpose of this commentary is to adapt a systems approach concept to SRP research to accommodate the complexity of a scientific problem. The SRP believes a systems approach offers a framework to understand how scientists can work together to integrate diverse fields of research to prevent or understand environmentally-influenced human disease by addressing specific questions that are part of a larger perspective. Specifically, within the context of the SRP, a systems approach can elucidate the complex interactions between factors that contribute to or protect against environmental insults. Leveraging a systems approach can continue to advance SRP science while building the foundation for researchers to address difficult emerging environmental health problems.

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