Genomics - Its Impact on Regulation and Public Policy

The field of genomics could lead to a revolution in toxicology and risk assessment, and holds the promise of improved understandings of susceptible populations, mechanisms of chemical actions, and predictive toxicology.

But what influence will genetic analysis have on regulations affecting a chemical's potential environmental or health impacts? How will this data be assessed by regulators, industry, activists, the media, and other stakeholders?

Two experts with their fingers on the pulse of this issue will provide an exclusive update for SDA members at our Fall meeting during a Special Session on Wednesday, October 2, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Arlington and Towers in Arlington, VA:

Dr. Paul Gilman, EPA's Top Science Advisor and the Agency's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development. Gilman formerly was the Director of Policy Planning for Celera Genomics in Rockville, Maryland, a bioinformation and drug discovery company known for having decoded the human genome. Gilman chaired a Science Policy Council that recently presented an Interim Genomics Policy at EPA, available at http://epa.gov/osp/spc/genomics.htm

David Rejeski, Director, Foresight and Governance Project, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and former Executive Director, Environmental Technology Task Force, White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Mr. Rejeski also served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and was Head of EPA's Future Studies Unit. He recently authored a paper for Risk Policy Report, "Exploring the Genomics Frontier" (available at wwics.si.edu/mediaguide/support/exploringthegenomicsfrontier2.pdf).

He will speak on "Exploring the Genomics Frontier (and Other Great Revolutions)".

SDA members can register for the meeting at http://www.cleaning101.com/meetings/Fall.html.