National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Constitution

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is a part of the National Institutes of Health, which is in turn a part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The mission of the NIEHS is to "reduce the burden of human illness and disability by understanding how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease". NIEHS focuses on peer-reviewed basic science, disease-oriented research, global environmental health, clinical research, and multidisciplinary training for researchers.

NIEHS researchers and grantees have shown links between lung cancer and asbestos exposure, the developmental impairment of children exposed to lead and the health effects of urban pollution. The 1994 co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in medicine, Dr. Martin Rodbell, served as Scientific Director of the NIEHS from 1985 to 1989. Later on in 1994, NIEHS scientists assisted in identifying the first breast cancer gene, BRCA1, and, in 1995, identified a gene that suppresses prostate cancer. Work by NIEHS researchers and grantees has resulted in the development of genetically altered mice to improve and shorten the screening of potential toxins and to help develop aspirin-like anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer side effects.

The Institute funds centers for environmental health studies at universities across the United States.

History

In 1966, U.S. Surgeon General William H. Stewart helped to create a Division of Environmental Health Sciences within the NIH. Three years later, the division became its own institute, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Past directors include Paul Kotin, David Rall, Kenneth Olden, David A. Schwartz, and Linda Birnbaum.

Directors

he following persons served as NIEHS director:

Organization

The NIEHS is one of 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIEHS is located on 375 acre in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. Its current director is Dr. Richard Woychik, who is also concurrently the director of the National Toxicology Program. The deputy director is Dr. Trevor Archer. The director of the NIEHS reports to the director of the NIH, of which the NIEHS is a member agency.

NIEHS is composed of:

• Division of Intramural Research (DIR), which is research done at NIEHS
• Division of Extramural Research and Training, which funds research conducted elsewhere
• Division of the National Toxicology Program, which is an interagency program headquartered at NIEHS

References

References

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2. Levinson, Daniel R.. (August 29, 2017). "As Funding for BPA Research Increased, NIEHS Followed Its Peer Review Process While Also Exercising Its Discretion".
3. Birnbaum, Linda S.. (September 2018). "Moving NIEHS Forward for the Next Five Years". Environmental Health Perspectives.
4. (October 2022). "The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences".
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6. Arnette, Robin. (January 2022). "2021 Papers of the year".
7. "William H. Stewart (1965-1969)".
8. Hawkins, Thomas R.. (1987). "A History of Progress: NIEHS, The First 20 Years (1966 to 1986)". Environmental Health Perspectives.
9. (9 July 2015). "NIEHS Directors".
10. (June 25, 1991). "Howard's Kenneth Olden Named NIEHS Director". The NIH Record.
11. (December 7, 2004). "Schwartz Named NIEHS and NTP Director". The NIH Record.
12. (February 20, 2009). "NIEHS’s Wilson To Focus on Research Full Time". The NIH Record.
13. Ball, Eddy. (January 9, 2009). "NIEHS Welcomes Birnbaum as Next Director". The NIH Record.
14. Lenox, Kelly. (December 13, 2019). "Fond Farewells for NIEHS’s Birnbaum". The NIH Record.
15. Flowers, Christine Bruske. (June 26, 2020). "New NIEHS Director Woychik To Lead with Innovation". The NIH Record.
16. "NIH names Rick Woychik Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences".
17. (June 11, 2020). "NIH names Rick Woychik director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences". NIH.
18. (2021). "NIEHS Sustainability Report 2021".
19. Liptak, Eve. (March 27, 2024). "Federal environmental health director lays out road map for environmental health sciences".
20. "NIH Organizational Chart".