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Use Case Champions

Shannon Bell, Research Triangle Institute

Status

As of January 30, 2026

  • Currently developing a publication describing findings and recommendations of active workgroup members.

Purpose

The purpose of the Data Discovery Use Case (DDUC) is to explore how language-based solutions can make it easier to identify, locate, access, and use environmental health science data and resources.

We are doing this using a community-driven, collaborative, and participatory approach from the perspective of the research funder, researcher, editor, peer reviewer, assessor, and regulator to cover the full life cycle of data. Our goal is to develop an understanding of the challenges associated with finding data and associated solutions. The expected impacts of DDUC are:

  • Increased understanding of the barriers (e.g., language, resources, information overload, data quality) to finding data.
  • Increased awareness of current approaches to finding information (e.g., curated databases and directories, collaborative platforms and expert communities, artificial intelligence (AI) tools).
  • Identification of language-based recommendations and solutions that improve language barriers and make it easier for people to locate and use the environmental health science data and resources that they need.

Progress to Date

  • Selected the data discovery problem focus, which is conducting chemical evaluations for effects on human and ecological health.
  • Described what we are using to guide our search for information and how the choice of words can impact results in a very diverse field.
  • Described how we conduct searches using case examples from flame retardants, ECOtoxicology Knowledgebase, and chemical assessment workflows.
  • Developed recommendations to improve the findability of environmental health science data and resources and communications strategies for disseminating recommendations.

Next Steps

  • Finalize and prepare for submission a publication describing findings and recommendations of active workgroup members on findings on data findability challenges and systemic solutions, such as application of standards and structured reporting, throughout the data lifecycle.

Expected Final Products

  • A published manuscript on the findability of published toxicology data.

How to Get Involved

The Data Discovery Use Case is finalizing a manuscript and not accepting new members. Email [email protected] or [email protected] to be added to the EHLC listserv and receive updates on the use cases, events, and other EHLC resources.