Health Assessment and Translation

Andrew A. Rooney, Ph.D.
Andrew A. Rooney, Ph.D.
Acting Chief, Integrative Health Assessments Branch
Tel 984-287-3178
Fax 301-480-3299
[email protected]
Curriculum Vitae (111KB)
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop K2-04
Durham, NC 27709

Andrew Rooney, Ph.D., is acting director of the Office of Health Assessment and Translation in the National Toxicology Program at NIEHS. Rooney has been actively involved in developing risk assessment methods and guidance throughout his professional career and is a principal author of the 2012 WHO/IPCS Guidance for Immunotoxicity Risk Assessment for Chemicals. He has 20 years of experience in toxicology and risk assessment for the protection of public health and has authored over 40 peer-reviewed documents in the field including manuscripts and government assessments. For the last several years, Rooney has been working on emerging issues in toxicology and environmental health including methods to address study quality in terms of risk of bias for human, animal, and mechanistic studies and adaptation of systematic review methods for addressing environmental health questions. He was a lead for the team that developed the OHAT Approach to systematic review and evidence integration for literature-based environmental health science assessments and was the project lead for developing the NTP Monograph on Health Effects of Low-level Lead.

Rooney received his Sc.B. in Biology with Honors from Brown University, and completed his graduate training at the University of Florida, earning a M.S. and Ph.D. in Zoology. He was awarded a National Research Grant of Canada and served as a postdoctoral research fellow in immunotoxicology at the University of Quebec, INRS-SANTÉ. Rooney began working at the US EPA as a postdoctoral fellow in immunotoxicology and later joined the US EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System Staff, where he served as a health scientist and Team Leader before joining the NTP in 2009.

Selected Publications

  1. Akl EA, Morgan RL, Rooney AA, Beverly B, Katikireddi SV, Agarwal A, Alper BS, Alva-Diaz C, Amato L, Ansari MT, Brozek J, Chu DK, Dahm P, Darzi AJ, Falavigna M, Gartlehner G, Pardo-Hernandez H, King V, Klugarová J, Langendam MWM, Lockwood C, Mammen M, Mathioudakis AG, McCaul M, Meerpohl JJ, Minozzi S, Mustafa RA, Nonino F, Piggott T, Qaseem A, Riva J, Rodin R, Sekercioglu N, Skoetz N, Traversy G, Thayer K, Schünemann H. 2021. Developing trustworthy recommendations as part of an urgent response (1-2 weeks): a GRADE concept paper. J Clin Epidemiol 129:1-11. [Abstract Akl EA, Morgan RL, Rooney AA, Beverly B, Katikireddi SV, Agarwal A, Alper BS, Alva-Diaz C, Amato L, Ansari MT, Brozek J, Chu DK, Dahm P, Darzi AJ, Falavigna M, Gartlehner G, Pardo-Hernandez H, King V, Klugarová J, Langendam MWM, Lockwood C, Mammen M, Mathioudakis AG, McCaul M, Meerpohl JJ, Minozzi S, Mustafa RA, Nonino F, Piggott T, Qaseem A, Riva J, Rodin R, Sekercioglu N, Skoetz N, Traversy G, Thayer K, Schünemann H. 2021. Developing trustworthy recommendations as part of an urgent response (1-2 weeks): a GRADE concept paper. J Clin Epidemiol 129:1-11.]
  2. Pelch K, Wignall JA, Goldstone AE, Ross PK, Blain RB, Shapiro AJ, Holmgren SD, Hsieh JH, Svoboda D, Auerbach SS, Parham FM, Masten SA, Walker V, Rooney AA, Thayer KA. 2019. A scoping review of the health and toxicological activity of Bisphenol A (BPA) structural analogues and functional alternatives. Toxicology 424:152235. [Abstract Pelch K, Wignall JA, Goldstone AE, Ross PK, Blain RB, Shapiro AJ, Holmgren SD, Hsieh JH, Svoboda D, Auerbach SS, Parham FM, Masten SA, Walker V, Rooney AA, Thayer KA. 2019. A scoping review of the health and toxicological activity of Bisphenol A (BPA) structural analogues and functional alternatives. Toxicology 424:152235.]
  3. Morgan RL, Beverly B, Schünemann HJ, Ghersi D, Thayer KA, Rooney AA, Whaley P, Zhu YG, GRADE Working Group. 2019. GRADE guidelines for environmental and occupational health: A new series of articles in Environment International. Environment International 128:11-12. [Abstract Morgan RL, Beverly B, Schünemann HJ, Ghersi D, Thayer KA, Rooney AA, Whaley P, Zhu YG, GRADE Working Group. 2019. GRADE guidelines for environmental and occupational health: A new series of articles in Environment International. Environment International 128:11-12.]
  4. Dorman DC, Chiu W, Hales BF, Hauser R, Johnson KJ, Mantus E, Martel S, Robinson KA, Rooney AA, Rudel R, Sathyanarayana S, Schantz SL, Waters KM. 2018. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of human and animal evidence of prenatal diethylhexyl phthalate exposure and changes in male anogenital distance. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews 21(4):207-226. [Abstract Dorman DC, Chiu W, Hales BF, Hauser R, Johnson KJ, Mantus E, Martel S, Robinson KA, Rooney AA, Rudel R, Sathyanarayana S, Schantz SL, Waters KM. 2018. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of human and animal evidence of prenatal diethylhexyl phthalate exposure and changes in male anogenital distance. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews 21(4):207-226.]
  5. Dorman DC, Chiu W, Hales BF, Hauser R, Johnson KJ, Mantus E, Martel S, Robinson KA, Rooney AA, Rudel R, Sathyanarayana S, Schantz SL, Waters KM. 2018. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) neurotoxicity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal evidence. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews 21(4):269-289. [Abstract Dorman DC, Chiu W, Hales BF, Hauser R, Johnson KJ, Mantus E, Martel S, Robinson KA, Rooney AA, Rudel R, Sathyanarayana S, Schantz SL, Waters KM. 2018. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) neurotoxicity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal evidence. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews 21(4):269-289.]
  6. Stephens ML, Betts K, Beck NB, Cogliano V, Dickersin K, Fitzpatrick S, Freeman J, Gray G, Hartung T, McPartland J, Rooney AA, Scherer RW, Verloo D, Hoffmann S. 2016. The Emergence of Systematic Review in Toxicology. Toxicological Sciences 152(1):10-6. [Abstract Stephens ML, Betts K, Beck NB, Cogliano V, Dickersin K, Fitzpatrick S, Freeman J, Gray G, Hartung T, McPartland J, Rooney AA, Scherer RW, Verloo D, Hoffmann S. 2016. The Emergence of Systematic Review in Toxicology. Toxicological Sciences 152(1):10-6.]
  7. Whaley P, Halsall C, Ågerstrand M, Aiassa E, Benford D, Bilotta G, Coggon D, Collins C, Dempsey C, Duarte-Davidson R, FitzGerald R, Galay-Burgos M, Gee D, Hoffmann S, Lam J, Lasserson T, Levy L, Lipworth S, Ross SM, Martin O, Meads C, Meyer-Baron M, Miller J, Pease C, Rooney A, Sapiets A, Stewart G, Taylor D. Implementing systematic review techniques in chemical risk assessment: challenges, opportunities and recommendations. Environment international 2016 92-93():556-564. [Abstract Whaley P, Halsall C, Ågerstrand M, Aiassa E, Benford D, Bilotta G, Coggon D, Collins C, Dempsey C, Duarte-Davidson R, FitzGerald R, Galay-Burgos M, Gee D, Hoffmann S, Lam J, Lasserson T, Levy L, Lipworth S, Ross SM, Martin O, Meads C, Meyer-Baron M, Miller J, Pease C, Rooney A, Sapiets A, Stewart G, Taylor D. Implementing systematic review techniques in chemical risk assessment: challenges, opportunities and recommendations. Environment international 2016 92-93():556-564.]
  8. Rooney AA, Cooper GS,  Jahnke GD, Lam J, Morgan RL, Boyles AL, Ratcliffe JM, Kraft AD, Schünemann H, Schwingl P, Walker TD, Thayer KA, Lunn RM. How credible are the study results? Evaluating and applying internal validity tools to literature-based assessments of environmental health hazards. Environment International 2016 92-93():617-629 [Abstract Rooney AA, Cooper GS,  Jahnke GD, Lam J, Morgan RL, Boyles AL, Ratcliffe JM, Kraft AD, Schünemann H, Schwingl P, Walker TD, Thayer KA, Lunn RM. How credible are the study results? Evaluating and applying internal validity tools to literature-based assessments of environmental health hazards. Environment International 2016 92-93():617-629]
  9. Rooney AA, Boyles AL, Wolfe MS, Bucher JR, and Thayer KA. 2014. Systematic review and evidence integration for literature-based environmental health science assessments. Environ Health Perspect. 122(7): 711-718. [Abstract Rooney AA, Boyles AL, Wolfe MS, Bucher JR, and Thayer KA. 2014. Systematic review and evidence integration for literature-based environmental health science assessments. Environ Health Perspect. 122(7): 711-718.]
  10. Thayer KA, Wolfe MS, Rooney AA, Boyles AL, Bucher JR, and Birnbaum LS. 2014. Intersection of systematic review methodology with the NIH Reproducibility Initiative. Environ Health Perspect. 122(7): A176-A177. [Abstract Thayer KA, Wolfe MS, Rooney AA, Boyles AL, Bucher JR, and Birnbaum LS. 2014. Intersection of systematic review methodology with the NIH Reproducibility Initiative. Environ Health Perspect. 122(7): A176-A177.]
  11. Rooney AA, AL Boyles, VR Walker (2014) Chapter 16: Systematic Review: An illustration of increased transparency in a framework for evaluating immunotoxicity associated with PFOA and PFOS exposure, In DeWitt J(ed.) “Health Effects of Perfluorinated Compounds,” Springer, New York, NY.
  12. World Health Organization (WHO)/ International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (2012) Harmonization Project No. 10. Guidance for Immunotoxicity Risk Assessment for Chemicals [Abstract World Health Organization (WHO)/ International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (2012) Harmonization Project No. 10. Guidance for Immunotoxicity Risk Assessment for Chemicals]
  13. NTP (2012) Monograph on Health Effects of Low-level Lead for NTP Office of Health Assessment and Translation, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC.
  14. Rooney AA, RW Luebke, MJ Selgrade, DR Germolec (2012) Chapter 3.9  Immunotoxicology and Its Application in Risk Assessment, In A Luch (ed.) “Molecular, Clinical and Environmental Toxicology: Volume 3: Environmental Toxicology.”  Springer, New York, NY.
  15. Boyles AL, Harris SF, Rooney AA, and Thayer KA. 2011. Forest Plot Viewer: a fast, flexible graphing tool. Epidemiology 22(5): 746-747. [Abstract Boyles AL, Harris SF, Rooney AA, and Thayer KA. 2011. Forest Plot Viewer: a fast, flexible graphing tool. Epidemiology 22(5): 746-747.]