Toxicologists influence health at the national and global levels, and like a great symphony (think of the final movement in Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 when the chorus erupts to sing “Ode to Joy”), toxicologists can only make great music working in concert with other disciplines. Akin to the likes of the Boston Pops, toxicologists add a unique “pop” to any investigation because we assess health along the entire spectrum—from health to disease. And perfectly in tune with this line of thought, the NAS is hosting a two-day in-person and virtual workshop on January 15 and 16, 2019, titled Toward Understanding the Interplay of Environmental Stressors, Infectious Disease, and Human Health. This workshop, sponsored by NIEHS, will examine the impact of chemical exposures and environmental disruptions on human susceptibility to infectious agents. Workshop participants from numerous disciplines (global public health, toxicology, environmental epidemiology, science policy) will explore how our collective knowledge may guide research directions, health practices, and domestic and global policy.
The workshop will feature panels and breakout sessions designed to foster discussion and focus future action. The workshop is free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend. The registration link and agenda are posted on the NAS Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions website.
The participation of toxicologists is “instrumental” to making the NAS meeting a success, so plan on making this workshop part of your New Year’s resolution to be actively involved in the practice of toxicology!