Program Description

Partnerships among scientists who might not normally work together can quicken the pace at which research moves forward. The Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER) program brings together diverse research teams that may include scientists who develop technologies, conduct basic mechanistic or population-based studies, and those that are clinical and patient-oriented. Through collaboration and knowledge exchange, these teams, called consortiums, foster innovation and accelerate the translation of scientific research into meaningful improvements in human health.

Each consortium sets research goals in an area where environmental factors are known or expected to influence the development or progression of disease. The consortia are virtual in that some or all participants collaborate through conference calls, webinars, and annual meetings. The synergy from these teams may stimulate fresh perspectives or approaches to studying an environmental health topic.

See our grantees for more information on the current research teams and their projects.

What Is NIEHS Doing?

Consortia funded by NIEHS are investigating a range of environmental health research questions. For example, scientists are working together to:

• Understand mechanisms underlying an established association between air pollution and autism spectrum disorder through mouse and human population studies.
• Develop biomarkers for environmental manganese exposure using in vitro and in vivo model systems.
• Identify factors linked to asthma susceptibility using animal and human tissue samples.
• Improve chemical hazard testing for air pollution-related lung disease by combining environmental engineering methods with mouse and human cell culture studies.
• Examine how prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls affects child brain development using animal and human cell culture studies.

Funding Opportunity Information

In October 2021, NIEHS reissued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the ViCTER program (RFA-ES-21-007). Applications will be accepted February 1, 2022, February 1, 2023, and February 1, 2024. [NIH released Notice of Clarification of Award Budget Instructions for Specific Aims in RFA-ES-21-007, Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)]

On November 18, 2021, the NIEHS staff presented an informational webinar about the ViCTER FOA (RFA-ES-21-007). The webinar included an overview of the FOA as well as time for questions and answers.

• Slides from Webinar (3MB)

Program Contacts

Heather Henry, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator, Superfund Research Program

Tel 984-287-3268
[email protected]

530 Davis Dr

530 Davis Drive (Keystone Bldg)

Durham, NC 27713

Delivery Instructions