IHSFC Vision and Goals

 

A very exciting development of the 2006 reorganization of EHSC is the implementation of the new Integrative Health Sciences Facility Core (IHSFC), offering comprehensive services to EHSC investigators engaging in translational research. Oregon State University is unique among NIEHS Core Centers in not having an on-campus academic medical center. Instead of seeing this as an obstacle, IHSFC staff have been dedicated to creating an infrastructure that nurtures and supports translational research at OSU and to developing connections that encourage collaboration with new regional partners. 

Vision 

Our guiding vision is the translation of basic science discoveries into real-world clinical applications that promote health and reduce susceptibility to environmental health-related disease. We envision an invigorating exchange of ideas between basic research scientists, clinicians, and public health entities that can help Environmental Health Sciences Core Center investigators use their expertise and accomplishments in basic environmental health science to explore directions that improve human health. 

The IHSFC will focus on facilitating research that investigates the role of the environment in human health. Specifically, the Core will support translational research in three key areas:

1. biomarkers of exposure (especially low exposures) and protection;
2. interventions to reduce susceptibility to environmental stress throughout the life-span; and
3. macromolecular interactions in the context of environmental agents, oxidative stress, and signaling. 

Goals 

The mission of the IHSFC is to meet the growing need for support of translational environmental health science research by EHSC investigators. To do this we will: 

• Provide infrastructure and services to support the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of research projects which integrate components of basic science, public health, clinical intervention studies, and patient-oriented environmental health research.
• Develop partnerships with other University entities, public health professionals, and community-based organizations to create new opportunities for translational clinical research in environmental health sciences in areas of relevance to public health.
• Facilitate training of center members in areas of relevance to public health and clinical practice.
• Promote the dissemination of results of translational research to clinicians and other stakeholders.