Centers & Programs

Center for Human Health Assessment

Director, Harvey J. Clewell III, Ph.D.

Mission and Functions

The mission of the Center for Human Health Assessment is to foster the incorporation of chemical-specific and biological information in health and safety assessments. We will combine state-of-the-art modeling techniques for tissue dosimetry and cellular response with targeted experimental studies to reduce uncertainties in estimating the effects of chemicals in human populations. The approaches developed by activities in the Center should be of value, not only for environmentally important compounds, but also in the development of new pharmaceuticals and alternatives to live animal testing.

Health Assessment Experience

  • The Hamner has developed a systems biology approach to provide integrative and quantitative tools for human health effects research.
  • Scientists affiliated with the Center for Human Health Assessment have a long history of seminal research on the effects of chemicals on human health.
  • CIIT and The Hamner have well-established collaborative relationships with area research facilities and government agencies.
  • Risk assessments developed for specific chemicals by The Hamner staff can serve as templates for similar assessments of other compounds.

Current Projects

  • Acetaldehyde and Acrolein Dose-Response Assessments for Humans
  • Biologically Based Risk Assessment for Inhaled Formaldehyde
  • Computational Modeling of Chloroform Cytolethality and Regenerative Proliferation
  • Investigation of Selected Tissues Relevant to Human Health Risk Assessment for Arsenic PBPK Modeling for Risk Assessment of Carbaryl Lawn Post-Application Exposure
  • Reconstructing Human Chloroform Exposure from Biomonitoring Data with a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model
  • A Reverse Dosimetry Screening Approach for Interpretation of Biomonitoring Data on Volatile Organic Compounds
  • The Role of Regenerative Cellular Proliferation in Propylene Oxide-Induced Rat Nasal Tumors
  • Use of Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Models for Trihalomethanes to Interpret Human Biomonitoring Data Courses

Previously Held Courses

  • Center for Human Health Assessment to Offer Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Risk Assessment Workshop was held in February 2008.
  • Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling and Risk Assessment was held in September 2005 and again in February 2006.
  • Interpretation of Biomonitoring Data Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling was held in September 2006.

Future Courses

Dose-Response Modeling: From Empiricism to Systems Biology (Dates and additional details to be announced. To be added to our mailing list, please contact Jeanne Galbo.)

Affiliated Scientists

Postdoctoral Fellows