Research Projects

The objectives of the conference were stated in the letter which I sent to almost all of you. Those objectives are reflected in the agenda which first encompasses a review of some of the past and some of the on-going studies of health effects of air pollution; we then look at clinical investigations and animal toxicology as sources of ideas and information that's useful in epidemiologic studies. This is a two-way street; there should be a feeding of ideas in both directions. Then, some of the important concepts in the design of epidemiologic studies are reviewed and discussed. We're very grateful to Dr. Patricia Buffler and to Dr. Jonathan Samet for taking the lead in organizing that session of the planning colloquium. Finally, the fourth session will be an attempt to translate the content of this meeting into the first steps in an on-going program that ARB has committed itself to support over the next number of years. Because we have a very tight schedule, I will turn over the podium at this point to Dane Westerdahl.