Health Assessment and Translation
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Vickie R. Walker
Health Scientist -
Tel 984-287-3205
Fax 301-480-3337
[email protected] -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K2-04Durham, NC 27709
Vickie R. Walker is a health scientist in the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in developing and harmonizing methods for literature-based environmental health assessments. Walker leads the evidence informatics initiatives within the Integrative Health Assessment Branch, leveraging technologies like machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence to streamline systematic review and systematic evidence mapping workflows, significantly enhancing the efficiency of systematic reviews and improving data visualization and communication.
Her expertise is in the early phases of the systematic review process, including problem formulation, literature search and selection, and data extraction with an emphasis on developing tools for knowledge extraction. As a recognized leader in her field, Walker has been invited to speak at numerous local and international conferences where she shares her expertise in systematic review methodologies. Walker’s extensive technical knowledge and experience have established her as a recognized leader in using evidence informatics to advance toxicology and environmental health science.
In addition to her role in evidence informatics, Vickie R. Walker serves as program lead for the DTT Scientific Cyberinfrastructure Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining DTT, Walker worked as a biologist in the NIEHS Division of Intramural Research for 15 years, where she gained extensive experience in reproductive and developmental toxicology. Earlier work contributed to understanding estrogen receptor mechanisms in development, reproduction, and cancer through the use of transgenic and gene-disruption animal models.
Recent Publications
- O'Connor A, Clark J, Thomas J, Spijker R, Kusa W, Walker V, Bond M. Large language models, updates, and evaluation of automation tools for systematic reviews: a summary of significant discussions at the eighth meeting of the International Collaboration for the Automation of Systematic Reviews (ICASR). Systematic reviews. 2024 Nov 27;13(1):290. [ AbstractO'Connor A, Clark J, Thomas J, Spijker R, Kusa W, Walker V, Bond M. Large language models, updates, and evaluation of automation tools for systematic reviews: a summary of significant discussions at the eighth meeting of the International Collaboration for the Automation of Systematic Reviews (ICASR). Systematic reviews. 2024 Nov 27 ]
- Angrish M, Thayer K, Schulz B, Nowak A, Persad A, Phillips A, Rice G, Shannon T, Wilkins A, Christensen K, Radke E, Shapiro A, Taylor M, Walker V, Rooney A, Watford S. Proof-of-concept for using machine learning to facilitate data extraction for human health chemical assessments: a study protocol. Evidence-based toxicology. 2024 Nov 11;2(1):2421192. [ AbstractAngrish M, Thayer K, Schulz B, Nowak A, Persad A, Phillips A, Rice G, Shannon T, Wilkins A, Christensen K, Radke E, Shapiro A, Taylor M, Walker V, Rooney A, Watford S. Proof-of-concept for using machine learning to facilitate data extraction for human health chemical assessments: a study protocol. Evidence-based toxicology. 2024 Nov 11 ]
- Whaley P, Blain R, Draper D, Rooney A, Walker V, Wattam S, Wright R, Hooijmans C. Identifying assessment criteria for in vitro studies: a method and item bank. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology. 2024 Oct 01;201(2):240-253. [ AbstractWhaley P, Blain R, Draper D, Rooney A, Walker V, Wattam S, Wright R, Hooijmans C. Identifying assessment criteria for in vitro studies: a method and item bank. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology. 2024 Oct 01 ]
- Taylor K, Howdeshell K, Singh A, Walker V, Wang A, Boyles A, Beverly B, Rooney A. Comment on "Evidence Synthesis of Observational Studies in Environmental Health: Lessons Learned from a Systematic Review on Traffic-Related Air Pollution". Environmental health perspectives. 2024 Aug;132(8):88001. [ AbstractTaylor K, Howdeshell K, Singh A, Walker V, Wang A, Boyles A, Beverly B, Rooney A. Comment on "Evidence Synthesis of Observational Studies in Environmental Health: Lessons Learned from a Systematic Review on Traffic-Related Air Pollution". Environmental health perspectives. 2024 Aug ]
- Walker V, Lemeris C, Magnuson K, Sibrizzi C, Shipkowski K, Taylor K, Rooney A. I-REFF diagrams: enhancing transparency in systematic review through interactive reference flow diagrams. Systematic reviews. 2024 Jan 17;13(1):33. [ AbstractWalker V, Lemeris C, Magnuson K, Sibrizzi C, Shipkowski K, Taylor K, Rooney A. I-REFF diagrams: enhancing transparency in systematic review through interactive reference flow diagrams. Systematic reviews. 2024 Jan 17 ]
NTP Reports
- National Toxicology Program. NTP monograph on the systematic review of long-term neurological effects following acute exposure to sarin. NTP monograph. 2019 Jun [Epub ahead of print]. [ AbstractNational Toxicology Program. NTP monograph on the systematic review of long-term neurological effects following acute exposure to sarin. NTP monograph. 2019 Jun ]