Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication

The Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication (IRARC) focuses on advancing public health through cutting‑edge research and practical application of risk assessment and risk communication methods. Our work spans molecular and cellular studies, development of mechanistic toxicity models, creation and evaluation of new approach methodologies, and translation of scientific findings for broad audiences. We bring together multiple research centers and collaborative projects to serve as a hub for integrated, science‑driven approaches to understanding and communicating risk. IRARC is one of the founding members of WHO’s chemical risk assessment network.

We are equally committed to education and professional development. IRARC supports graduate‑level training in risk assessment and communication, preparing students for roles in universities, government agencies, consulting, and regulatory science. Many of our trainees now work as risk assessors, research scientists, and communication liaisons across local, state, federal, and international settings. We also teach international risk summer schools and provide ongoing training for scientists and practitioners, ensuring that evidence‑based risk methods are applied effectively in real‑world decision‑making and public engagement.

Dr. Elaine Faustman, Director (https://deohs.washington.edu/faculty/elaine-faustman)

Kethanh Duong, Manager

Dr. Willian Griffith, Senior statistician/Research Scientist

Jim Wallace, Bioinformatics

Tomomi Workman, Research consultant

Dr. Faustman’s work as Director of IRARC focuses on uncovering how environmental agents—such as methylmercury, arsenic, cadmium, and organophosphate pesticides—disrupt developmental and reproductive processes, and on developing new methods to evaluate the health risks they pose. Her team integrates in vitro, in vivo, and new approach methodologies with epidemiological evidence to build mechanistic models across life stages, while genomic and proteomic tools help clarify how toxicants alter normal neurodevelopment and support advances in both cancer and noncancer risk assessment. Evaluating how chemical and non-chemical stressor impacts impact humans and the environment.

Integrating and Informing Actionable Agricultural Tools (II‑ACT)

This EPA‑funded project evaluates how combined chemical and non‑chemical stressors affect early‑life health in agricultural communities and identifies practical strategies to protect human health. This research is being used to define an Agricultural Exposome.

Integrating and Informing Actionable Agricultural Community Tools (II-ACT)

Strategies to Prevent (STOP) Spillover

A USAID‑funded global consortium led by Tufts University that advances understanding of zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential and develops strategies to reduce spillover risk at the human–animal–environment interface.

Stop Spillover

Center for Child Environmental Health Risks Research (CHC)

This center investigates why children are more susceptible to pesticides, maintains a long‑standing biobank, and continues to expand resources that support research on childhood environmental health risks.

Predictive Toxicology Center for Organotypic Cultures and AOP Assessment

Focused on developing organotypic culture systems to evaluate cellular and organ toxicity from metals and engineered nanomaterials within adverse outcome pathway (AOP) frameworks. This research was done under both a Center as well as Nanoparticle Consortium structure that allowed us to collaborate with multiple universities.

Pacific Northwest Center for Human Health and Ocean Studies

A NIEHS‑ and NSF‑funded collaboration examining how genetic and environmental factors shape toxicity from harmful algal blooms, with recent work addressing marine litter, wellbeing, water scarcity, and watershed hydrogeology across the Pacific Northwest.

Ocean Nexus Program

The major goals of this program are to develop evidence-based policies for sustainable and equitable ocean and society by creating fellowship programs, engaging in interdisciplinary research, improving standards/metrics that address public health equity, and effectively developing science communication. Research has focused on nano and micro plastics and broad water scarcity issues impacting island and near shore communities.

Ocean Nexus Program

Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR)

HHEAR is a continuation of the Children’s Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR) and is funded by NIEHS, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). HHEAR measures human environmental exposures over a lifetime using a lifecourse approach. The goal of HHEAR is to provide infrastructure for adding or expanding exposure analysis to advance understanding of the impact of environmental exposures on human health throughout the life-course. HHEAR’s research has been instrumental in defining and enabling “exposomic” research. HHEAR’s organizational structure consists of a coordinating center, data center, and an exposure assessment laboratory network that conducts targeted and untargeted analyses of biological and environmental samples.

HHEAR

Youjun Park Suh

Sex-Specific Disruption of the Gut-Liver-Brain Axis: Developmental Programming and Behavioral Outcomes Following PCB Exposure

PhD, 2025
Faculty: Yue Cui, Elaine M. Faustman

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Hannah Cutler Dye

Investigating Agricultural Exposures, Inflammation, and Child Respiratory Health in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington

MS Thesis, 2025
Faculty: Elaine M. Faustman, Judit Marsillach

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Brad Hansen

Investigating spermatogonial dynamics in vitro: Insights for reproductive and developmental toxicology

PhD, 2025
Faculty: Edward Kelly, Elaine M. Faustman

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Amy Leang

Next Generation Risk Assessment of Phthalates: Integrating New Approach Methods and Exposomic Approaches using a Washington State Agricultural Community Cohort Study

PhD, 2024
Faculty: Elaine M. Faustman

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Thomas Dugan

A Risk Assessment of Coastal Nanoplastic Particles: Enzymatic Pre-Treatment and Analytical Approaches at the Nanoscale

MS Thesis in Environmental Toxicology, 2023
Faculty: Elaine M. Faustman

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Justine Marecaux

Organophosphates in Urine and House Dust and Associations with Asthma Respiratory Health Outcomes in an Agricultural Children’s Cohort

MS Thesis in Environmental Toxicology, 2022
Faculty: Elaine M. Faustman

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Natalie Soto

Sequencing the Microbiome of Agricultural Household Dust: Characterizing Community Structure