Superfund Research Program

March 2025

Martyn Smith, Ph.D., speaks at the Keystone Science Lecture

Researchers use evidence from three kinds of studies to determine if a chemical may cause cancer or other adverse outcomes: human studies (epidemiological effects), animal studies (biological effects), and mechanistic studies (how chemicals contribute to disease). However, the large amounts of mechanistic data make it challenging to prioritize which hazards to investigate.

In his January 14 Keystone Science Lecture, Martyn Smith, Ph.D., described a framework for identifying key characteristics of chemicals that cause specific adverse outcomes, like cancer or endocrine disruption. Smith is the Director of the University of California Berkeley Superfund Research Program Center.

“Key characteristics are the chemical and biological properties of substances, and by substances we mean everything from viruses to chemicals to radiation,” said Smith.

Learn more about Smith’s lecture and framework in the NIEHS Environmental Factor Newsletter.