[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 232 (Monday, December 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29765]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Statement of 
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

    Part H, Chapter HC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of 
the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority 
of the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-67776, 
dated October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, 
as amended most recently at 59 FR 47146, dated September 14, 1994) is 
amended to establish the Health Effects Laboratory Division, National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at Morgantown, West 
Virginia.
    Section HC-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    After the functional statement for the Office of Extramural 
Coordination and Special Projects (HCC13), insert the following:

Health Effects Laboratory Division (HCC3)

    (1) Provides new focused research capabilities in mechanisms of 
occupational disease and identifies causative substances and early 
indicators (biomarkers) of response to chemical, biological, and 
physical substances which will be directed at prevention and control of 
occupational disease and integrated into the filed research and 
services programs in NIOSH; (2) develops new state-of-the-art research 
techniques in physiology, human and animal cellular and molecular 
pathology; (3) develops new state-of-the-art research techniques in the 
areas of biochemistry, immunotoxicology, pharmacology, molecular and 
cellular biology, genetic toxicology, and imaging; (4) provides new 
research to develop and improve methods for environmental measurement 
of aerosols; (5) develops and evaluates (including development of 
performance criteria) intelligent, real-time personal and area direct 
reading instruments for chemical, biological and physical agents; (6) 
develops and improves techniques for measuring exposures and human 
responses to workplace exposures; (7) develops new research techniques 
in the areas of aeromicrobiology, particle characterization, molecular 
characterization, micro-sensors, advanced sampling and instrumentation, 
electronic monitoring, electrical and mechanical engineering; (8) 
develops new methodologies for exposure modeling of current and past 
exposures for use in applied research; (9) provides new research 
capabilities for developing and establishing engineering solutions for 
the control of occupational diseases and for utilizing engineering 
techniques to solve problems; (10) develops new research techniques in 
the areas of computerized workplace simulations and mathematical 
models; (11) provides environmental and biological laboratory services 
for all field and laboratory programs in NIOSH; (12) develops and 
evaluates effective communication strategies for promoting health 
education to communicate risk and prevention recommendations to those 
at risk and form coalitions to advocate prevention activities.

Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch (HCC32)

    (1) Provides focused research in workplace exposure and identifies 
causative substances and biomarkers of response to chemical, 
biological, and physical substances; (2) develops laboratory techniques 
or modifications that could be useful for population-based or large 
environmental testing; (3) develops molecular programs to examine the 
toxic effects of workplace exposures/agents on human, animal, and 
cellular systems; (4) defines the levels and circumstances of exposures 
that lead to development of pre- and post-toxic biomarkers, toxic 
responses, repair of damage or alleviation of damage, mechanisms of 
toxicity, and recommendations for prevention and control of toxic 
exposures; (5) develops integrated research programs in areas including 
cell to cell communication, cellular interaction, genome activations, 
responses to and production/release of cellular signals; and mechanisms 
of control, blockage, and homeostasis of cellular systems, broadly 
interpreted with respect to environmental and occupational agents; (6) 
studies microbial cellular components and production and release of 
exotoxins and mycotoxins in context with the holistic human and animal 
response, including targets such as the lung, skin, and nervous system; 
(7) provides support to the Division on state-of-the-art research in 
the areas of toxicology, molecular and cellular biology.

Pathology and Physiological Research Branch (HCC33)

    (1) Provides research into new ways to identify disease mechanisms, 
develops pre-disease early warning systems, identifies methods for 
repair or resolution of disease, and develops and applies new imaging 
techniques; (2) examines in an applied and preventive research mode the 
effects of workplace exposures on human and animal body functions and 
cellular response-receptors in the development of disease/disfunction, 
mechanism of action, early functional markers of detection, and 
recommendations for prevention and control/intervention; (3) provides 
advice and collaborative service for NIOSH investigators interested in 
physiological/pharmacological effects of workplace exposures on field-
based and animal/cellular systems; (4) examines the alteration of 
function based on pre-existing disease, induced-disease, or cellular/
organ structural impairment in the context of responses to occupational 
exposures, both actual and laboratory-generated; (5) assists HELD and 
other NIOSH divisions by providing animal exposure and pathological 
support in the development, use, and evaluation of exposure systems 
that mimic the occupational situation, reach the target organ, and 
results in sensitive models of change, structural or functional; (6) 
provides animal pathology support to researchers through the 
development of sensitive animal-specific tools, molecular probes, or 
recognition techniques that can be modified or used for animal models 
of occupational disease/exposure.

Exposure Assessment Branch (HCC34)

    (1) Provides research methods for the Division to develop and 
improve methods for environmental measurement of aerosols; (2) develops 
and evaluates real-time personal and area direct reading instruments 
for chemical, biological, and physical agents; (3) develops techniques 
for measuring human responses to workplace exposures; (4) provides new 
research techniques in the areas of aeromicrobiology, particle 
characterization, molecular characterization, micro sensors, advanced 
sampling and instrumentation, electronic monitoring, and electrical and 
mechanical engineering; (5) coordinates with other NIOSH laboratory-
based research (particularly the toxicology and molecular biology 
research), as well as NIOSH field studies and health hazard evaluations 
to advance exposure assessment methods; (6) develops new methodologies 
for exposure modeling of current and past exposure for use in applied 
research (epidemological and molecular epidemiological studies).

Engineering and Control Technology Branch (HCC35)

    (1) Provides research capabilities for developing and establishing 
engineering solutions for the control of occupational disease; (2) 
coordinates with the Exposure Assessment Branch to develop engineering 
techniques to solve problems in measuring and monitoring programs; (3) 
develops and utilizes techniques in computerized workplace simulations 
and mathematical models; (4) develops passive protection devices and 
systems for preventing or minimizing worker exposure to hazardous 
chemical, biological, and physical substances; (5) develops 
sophisticated personal protective equipment to provide workers with 
information about their working environment.

Analytical Services Branch (HCC36)

    (1) Provides environmental and biological analytical laboratory 
services such as immunotoxical, pharmacological, molecular and cellular 
biological analysis, identification, qualification, and other requested 
characterizations for all NIOSH research and service programs; (2) 
provides analytical services such as multi-chemical mixture analysis, 
particle size analysis, component identification, quantification, and 
other requested characterization; (3) develops state-of-the-art 
analytical methods for the evaluation and control of newly identified 
workplace hazards and exposures that could lead to occupational 
disease.

Biostatistics Branch (HCC37)

    (1) Provides experimental design and support of laboratory-based 
research to address the statistical aspects of projects in the Division 
and throughout the Institute; (2) verifies the statistical quality, 
both in the design and analysis phase of all experimental research in 
the Institute; (3) develops and directs the application of new 
statistical methods as well as the design and analysis of field 
research projects for the Institute; (4) develops computerized methods 
for independent research initiatives in statistical methods to advance 
basic research in experimental and observational studies; (5) 
collaborates in the design of laboratory and field research studies, 
providing consultation through the course of the research on 
computerized methods of data collection and interpretation of results.

Health Communication Research Branch (HCC38)

    (1) Designs, implements, and evaluations effective communication 
strategies for the Division using expertise in health education, and 
communication; (2) develops messages, materials, and methods to clearly 
and effectively communicate risks and prevention recommendation to 
those at risk and those that can most effectively implement or promote 
prevention activities; (3) evaluates the effectiveness of the 
Division's health communication to determine the impact and 
contribution to prevention of workplace injury and disease; (4) 
coordinates with others in the field of health communication to form 
coalitions to advocate prevention activities.

    Effective Date: November 18, 1994.
David Satcher,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 94-29765 Filed 12-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M