Speaker series shines light on diabetes in Hispanic populations

The NIEHS Office of Science Education and Diversity hosted an Oct. 7 talk by Leonor Corsino, M.D., associate dean of student affairs and associate professor of medicine and population health sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine. The presentation, entitled “Embracing Change: My Journey as a Physician-Scientist, Leader, and Health Professions Educator,” was part of the NIEHS Diversity Speaker Series in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Corsino shared her work examining how targeted interventions can influence patient outcomes and population health, particularly among understudied groups. Check out the lecture recording to learn more about Corsino’s research examining environmental factors driving diabetes in Hispanic and Latino populations. (EH)

Former NIEHS director honored by National Academy of Medicine

During its annual meeting Oct. 20, the National Academy of Medicine honored Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., with the Adam Yarmolinsky Medal for outstanding service. Birnbaum, who served for 10 years as director of NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program, is currently a Scholar in Residence at Duke University. She was acknowledged as being among the most distinguished toxicologists, with extensive leadership and service to the field of environmental and occupational health sciences.

Birnbaum has served as president of the Society of Toxicology, the largest professional organization of toxicologists in the world, and in leadership roles for numerous other professional organizations and editorial boards. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2010 and established and provided support for the National Academies’ Environmental Health Matters Initiative. (EH)

Panel advises federal agencies on advancing nonanimal testing methods

Experts advised federal agencies how to effectively support national and international efforts to replace animal use for chemical safety testing at the September meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods (SACATM). SACATM advises the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). ICCVAM is a permanent interagency committee of NIEHS.

The meeting highlighted ICCVAM’s efforts to help federal agencies and their stakeholders use new approach methodologies, or NAMs, for chemical safety testing. NAMs replace, reduce, or refine animal use. They include cell-based tests, computational methods, or data analyses that can be used to waive required tests or reduce the number of animals used.

ICCVAM activities over the last year highlighted at the meeting included guidance published in March on NAMs validation and establishment of a Method Developers Forum to connect NAM developers with regulators and regulated industries. ICCVAM agency scientists have also contributed to NIH efforts over the past year to advance NAMs for biomedical research.

Scientists from NIEHS, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and European Food Safety Authority presented on advances in the use of NAMs for developmental neurotoxicity testing. “This is a complex endpoint because the chemical targets and the pathways they affect are poorly understood,” commented Helena Hogberg, Ph.D., who gave one of two talks on NIEHS research in this area. “We don’t think the animal models used for this testing represent human biology very well, which makes it a good area for application of NAMs.”

To view slides, video, and other materials from the Sept 17-18 meeting, visit the SACATM webpage. (CS)