A version of this story was originally published in the Fall 2012 UW SRP eBulletin.
In 1987, University of Washington (UW) scientists were among the original grantees of the new interdisciplinary Superfund Research Program (SRP) funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The federal program is designed to build collaborations between scientific disciplines and promote partnerships with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as with other stakeholders who are invested in issues surrounding waste site remediation and environmental health concerns. The UW-SRP is one of three universities in the country to celebrate a quarter century of ongoing research (UC Berkeley SRP and UC Davis SRP are the others).
The following studies are included in an NIEHS downloadable commemorative booklet - Superfund Research Program Celebrating 25 Years
1988 Milton Gordon and colleague Lee Newman were pioneers in developing and implementing phytoremediation techniques using hybrids and fast-growing plants for remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants including TCE.
1995 Mike Hooper began exploring wildlife biomarker applications to remediation decision-making. With an interest in DDT and DDE, Dr. Hooper and colleagues developed wildlife biomarkers to establish health-based exposure and effects assessments for certain birds and mammals.
2005 Clement Furlong’s SRP research has improved our understanding of how individuals may vary in their metabolism of organophosphate pesticides. EPA and other agencies have used the work of this research group to inform certain regulatory decisions.
2011 Evan Gallagher’s research uses biomarkers of exposure to better understand neurotoxic chemical interference in olfactory mediated behaviors that are critical to salmon survival. Project findings can be used to identify problematic polluted sites and inform remediation methods.
Pictured above, left to right: Sheldon Murphy, 1987-1992; David Eaton, 1992- 2000; Harvey Checkoway, 2000 - present.