Background                                                                     

HESI seeks broad input from government, academic, and industry contacts on emerging scientific issues that merit consideration for potential program development.  The Emerging Issues (EI) process represents HESI’s mechanism for identifying and acting upon emerging scientific issues of mutual concern to the public, scientific community, government agencies, and industry which will benefit from a focused, multisector, collaborative effort.

All submitted topics are reviewed by the HESI Emerging Issues Steering Committee (EISC) in October of each year, and several priority topics are selected for presentation and discussion at the HESI Annual Meeting the following January.  Priority topics are subsequently submitted to HESI’s constituency for voting.  Based on this process, one or more EI Subcommittees are formed each year.  Once initiated, an EI Subcommittee refines its topic into a focused scientific program.  Recent additions to the HESI scientific portfolio which evolved from the EI process include programs on bioaccumulation of chemicals, in vitro genetic toxicity testing, and risk assessment for sensitive populations.  

In the past, priority EI topics have been identified via an annual survey of the membership and a broad cross section of the international scientific community.  This annual survey process will continue.  As a supplement to this process, HESI now offers the opportunity to submit emerging issues at any time during the year via electronic submission on its website.

Using the HESI Emerging Issues Survey, please submit one or more topics by following the instructions found on the survey form.  Use a separate survey form for each topic.

As an aid to identifying emerging issues for HESI consideration, we encourage you to examine the HESI Scientific Map (“Combined Challenges Map”) and the accompanying map key.  Developed in 2004 to guide HESI’s long-range strategic planning, the map represents the views of European and US-based scientists from government, academia, and industry.  Critical scientific, regulatory, and societal issues were identified by the group for potential consideration by HESI during the next 10 years (2005 – 2015).  You may find that your recommendations to HESI on current or emerging issues may be linked to the broad topics already represented on the Scientific Map.  If so, please describe the nature of the link and how your recommended topic will contribute to the issue.  Note that you may recommend topics that are not represented on the current Scientific Map.  All recommendations will be considered with equal weight.

Each topic must be accompanied by a description and statement of impact which fully characterizes the importance of the topic and why it deserves HESI consideration and action.

Please include your full contact information on the survey form.  This information is important should more detail be needed regarding your submission.

Thank you for sharing your scientific program ideas with HESI!

HESI Scientific Map

HESI Scientific Map Key