Gradient is presenting at Smithers Extractables and Leachables USA 2023 on May 17-18, 2023, in Washington, DC.

• “Towards Good Read Across Practice in Medical Device Risk Assessment.” J. Cohen.

Gradient presenting at Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) 116th Annual Conference & Exhibition. June 5-8, 2023. Orlando, FL.

• “Evaluating Exposure and Risk in Communities with EJ Concerns: Uses and Limitations of Publicly Available Geographic Information System (GIS)-Based Tools.” N. Slagowski, A. Lewis, J. Lemay.

Ari Lewis Invited to Serve on the US EPA Science Advisory Board Environmental Justice Screen Review Panel

Gradient scientist Ari Lewis appointed to US EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) EJScreen Review Panel

[March 20, 2023, Boston, MA] – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) recently announced appointments to its Science Advisory Board (SAB) ad hoc review panel for EJScreen, its new environmental justice (EJ) screening and mapping tool.  Gradient scientist Ari Lewis, M.S., was selected to serve as one of nineteen panel members.

According to the US EPA Environmental Justice website, EJ is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”  The new EJScreen tool was developed to help US EPA meet its responsibilities toward EJ, by using the mapping and screening tool to access and compare valuable information about a specific area’s environmental and demographic socioeconomic indicators.  The SAB EJScreen Review Panel is an ad hoc panel of scientific experts chosen to provide input on the methodology, calculations, and other components of the tool.

See a list of the EJScreen Review Panel members here.

US EPA established the SAB “to provide independent scientific and technical advice to the EPA Administrator on the scientific and technical basis for agency positions and regulations” under the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDAA).

Ari Lewis is a principal with expertise in toxicology and risk assessment.  She has applied her toxicology expertise across a wide range of chemical stewardship issues and is especially interested in cumulative risk assessment, which includes the consideration of non-chemical stressors (i.e., social factors) in vulnerable populations.

Please join us in congratulating Ari Lewis on this noteworthy service appointment!

Gradient LLC is an environmental and risk sciences consulting firm renowned for scientific excellence.  We provide cutting-edge risk sciences consulting services to design and strategize responsive and protective solutions to environmental and human health challenges.

Links

EJScreen: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen

About the US EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) and the SAB Staff Office https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-science-advisory-board-sab-and-sab-staff-office

Keywords:  Gradient LLC, Ari S. Lewis, EPA, Science Advisory Board (SAB), EJScreen, Environmental Justice (EJ)

Gradient Receives Best Poster Award in the Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section in the Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting

Gradient scientist Dr. Joel Cohen was co-author on a poster awarded best in the Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section category of the scientific proceedings in the Society of Toxicology 2023 Annual Meeting

[March 29, 2023, Boston, MA] – The Society of Toxicology (SOT) Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section has given a Best Poster Award in the Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section to a poster co-authored by Gradient as part of the SOT 2023 Annual Meeting.  The winning poster, “Characterization of the ISO Database of Reference Chemicals for Interlaboratory Studies to Demonstrate the Applicability of OECD Methods to Assess Skin Sensitization of Medical Devices,” was authored by Christian Pellevoisin, A. Nguyen, Ron Brown, Rose-Marie Jenvert, Hervé Groux, Peter Cornelis, Michelle H. Lee, Austin Zdawczyk, Joseph Carraway, Emma Pedersen, Joel Cohen, David Waeckerlin, Audrey P. Turley, Sebastian Hoffmann, and Kelly Coleman.  The poster was presented at SOT’s 62^nd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this month.

According to the SOT website, “The SOT Specialty Sections represent the breadth and diversity of the toxicological sciences by focusing on specific toxicological areas.”  The Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section has a purpose of “providing an international forum where government, industry, and academic toxicologists can share state-of-the-art knowledge and develop new approaches for the evaluation of medical devices.”

One poster is selected to receive the Best Poster Award, Medical Device and Combination Products Specialty Section each year.  Any poster accepted for presentation in the section is eligible for the Best Poster Award.

Joel M. Cohen, Sc.D., DABT is a principal scientist with specialties in computational toxicology and human health risk assessment. His primary responsibilities include non-clinical safety assessments of medical device and pharmaceutical components, consumer product safety evaluation, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, and skin sensitization hazard and risk assessments.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Cohen and his fellow authors on receiving this award!

Gradient LLC is an environmental and risk sciences consulting firm renowned for scientific excellence.  We provide cutting-edge risk sciences consulting services to design and strategize responsive and protective solutions to environmental and human health challenges.

Toxicologist Dr. Barbara D. Beck Awarded Society of Toxicology (SOT) Metals Specialty Section Career Achievement Award

Gradient scientist Dr. Barbara D. Beck was awarded the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Metals Specialty Section Career Achievement Award for her achievements in the field of metals toxicology at the SOT 62^nd Annual Meeting.

[March 23, 2023, Boston, MA] –  Gradient is pleased to announce that Dr. Barbara D. Beck has been named the winner of the Career Achievement Award by the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Metals Specialty Section.

The Career Achievement Award “recognizes a senior investigator whose outstanding research accomplishments have substantially advanced our understanding of metals toxicology.”  The award was presented March 22^nd at a reception as part of the SOT 62^nd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo held in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to SOT website, “The SOT Specialty Sections represent the breadth and diversity of the toxicological sciences by focusing on specific toxicological areas.”  The specialty sections collaborate throughout the year and as part of the Annual Meeting.  The Metals Specialty Section, founded in 1981, focuses on various aspects of metal toxicology.  Dr. Beck, a toxicologist and human health risk assessment scientist, is a long-time member of the Metals Specialty Section. She has worked on a broad range of metals including lead, arsenic, copper and manganese,  conducting health effect analyses and developing exposure models.. Dr. Beck is the author of over 100 book chapters and journal articles. Dr. Beck’s participation in advisory committees and expert panels, such as the National Research Council, and the US EPA Science Advisory Board has spanned over 30 years.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Beck on receiving this award!

Gradient LLC is an environmental and risk sciences consulting firm renowned for scientific excellence. We provide cutting edge risk sciences consulting services to design and strategize responsive and protective solutions to environmental and human health challenges.

Gradient is presenting “What the Regulations Don’t Tell You – Differences in Expections Between US FDA and EU MDR for E&L and Biocompatibility” at Pharma Ed Extractables & Leachables Summit 2023, April 17-18, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Contact Isaac Mohar, Ph.D., DABT and/or Jiaru Zhang, M.P.H., DABT for details.

Gradient Awarded Top 10 Best Computational Toxicology Specialty Section Abstract in the Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting

Gradient scientist Dr. Isaac Mohar was awarded Top 10 abstract in the Computational Toxicology Specialty Section category as part of the scientific proceedings in the Society of Toxicology 2023 Annual Meeting

[March 20, 2023, Boston, MA] – The Society of Toxicology (SOT) Computational Toxicology Specialty Section has awarded Gradient’s abstract one of the Top 10 abstracts for the Computational Toxicology Specialty Section of its 2023 Annual Meeting.  The winning abstract, “Frameworks for In Silico Toxicity Screening of Novel Odorants,” was authored by Dr. Isaac Mohar, Brad Hansen, Destiny Mims, and Dr. Joel Mainland.  The poster was presented at SOT’s 62^nd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.

According to the SOT website, “The SOT Specialty Sections represent the breadth and diversity of the toxicological sciences by focusing on specific toxicological areas.”  The Computational Toxicology Specialty Section focuses on computational toxicology, “a multidisciplinary science that requires understanding of computational sciences, systems biology, exposure science, risk assessment, and risk management.”

This “Top 10 Best SOT-CTSS Abstract Award” is one of many awards offered by the Computational Toxicology Specialty Section.  Any abstract submitted to SOT that focuses on computational toxicology is eligible for this award.

Dr. Mohar is a principal scientist at Gradient and an expert in toxicology and immunology.  He has over 20 years of experience in drug and chemical toxicology, immunology, and reproductive biology research.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Mohar and his fellow authors on receiving this award!

Gradient LLC is an environmental and risk sciences consulting firm renowned for scientific excellence.  We provide cutting-edge risk sciences consulting services to design and strategize responsive and protective solutions to environmental and human health challenges.

Keywords:  Gradient, Dr. Isaac Mohar, Society of Toxicology (SOT), computational toxicology

In this issue of Trends, we provide several articles on climate change-related topics.

Articles in This Issue:

• Climate-Related and ESG Financial Disclosures – The Scientist’s Role
• Downscaling: A Powerful Tool for Evaluating Climate Change Vulnerabilities
• Accounting for the Potential Impacts of Climate Change to Improve Remedy Decision-Making at Contaminated Sites
• Stone Living Lab Partnership Working to Scale-Up Nature-Based Approaches to Climate Adaptation in Massachusetts

Gradient is presenting at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, taking place March 19-23, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. See presentation details below, and click the links to view poster abstracts.

Gradient’s 2023 SOT Meeting Presentations:

“New Approach Methods for Toxicological Risk Assessment of Extractable Compounds from Biodegradable/Bioresorbable Medical Devices” (links to program agenda)
Joel Cohen
Workshop: Biocompatibility Assessment of Absorbable/Degradable Materials Employed in Medical Devices: Challenges, Pitfalls, and Emerging Testing Methods
3/20/23 @ 9:15 am-12:00 pm

“Updates to ISO 10993-17 for Medical Device Toxicological Risk Assessments: What You Need to Know” (links to program agenda)
Lindsey Borton
Exhibitor-Hosted Session
3/21/23 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am

“P183: Framework for In Silico Toxicity Screening of Novel Odorants”
Awarded Top 10 Abstracts for the Computational Toxicology Specialty Section!
Isaac Mohar, Brad Hansen, Destiny Mims, Joel Mainland
Session: Computational Toxicology II
3/21/23 @ 9:00 am-10:45 am

“P299: Ranking Surrogate Suitability for Read-Across of Medical Device Extractables: A Case Study of Irganox-Related Compounds”
Rachel Chang, Patricia Clyde, Pranav Mashankar, Joel Cohen
Session: Medical Devices
3/22/23 @ 10:45 am-12:30 pm

“P283: Comparison of Contrast Media Components with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard Solvents to Determine Representative Patient Risk”
Cassandra Meakin, Ian Hadley, Lindsey Borton
Session: Medical Devices
3/22/23 @ 10:45 am-12:30 pm

“P241: Considerations in Evaluating Dermal Absorption of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)”
Andrew Yeh, Laura Kerper, Robyn Prueitt, Barbara Beck
Session: PFAS II
3/22/23 @ 10:45 am-12:30 pm

“P346: Challenges in Evaluating Risks from Lead Exposure”
Barbara Beck, Joel Cohen, Steven Boomhower, Charlotte Marsh
Session: Risk Assessment III
3/22/23 @ 2:30 pm-4:15 pm

Matthew J. Mayo, M.S., GISP, CPG, P.G. was re-elected as Vice Chair of the Lancaster, MA Zoning Board of Appeals.