DLH Researchers Contribute to Research Presented at International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Annual Conference

The International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Annual Conference is taking place virtually from August 24 – 27. With interest in environmental health greater than ever, we’re proud that DLH team members served as co-authors on research being presented at this year’s conference:

NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program’s Efforts to Establish Standardized Tools for COVID- 19 Research Response 

This presentation describes how the National Institute of Health (NIH) is utilizing the Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program’s network of scientists and web tools to aggregate and host investigative resources, encourage comparisons across samples, and facilitate data integration and collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The DLH-supported DR2 program leads the nation in fostering improvements in processes, frameworks, and infrastructure for executing timely and complex research responses to disasters and emerging threats, including pandemics.

Creating a National IRB Preparedness Training Program for the Review of Disaster-Related Research

This presentation outlines how NIH DR2 is using its expertise in disaster research to develop disaster-related research training curricula and protocol review tools for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). As natural and manmade disasters become more frequent and complex, government agencies are looking to strengthen their preparedness, response, and recovery protocols through research. Few IRBs, however, have significant experience reviewing disaster research protocols — and DR2 is using its knowledge to fill that gap and build capacity at the local and national levels.