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EPA Scientist to Provide Technical Support to Former Soviet Defense Scientists
(August, 2003) Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Associate Director for Science at EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), and Dr. Phil Rossignol, a medical entomologist with Oregon State University, have been asked by EPA's Office of International Activities to provide technical support to the Institute of Zoology, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on designing research to investigate the effects of chemical pollutants on the mosquito species that can transmit diseases such as malaria. Uzbekistan has experienced problems with malaria due to a variety of factors including lack of sanitation, and poverty. Similar research is being conducted in collaboration with other countries including Germany.
In August, Dr. Orme-Zalaleta and Dr. Rossignol will travel to Uzbekistan to review the research proposal with the Institute of Zoology scientists and assist with study design and identification of necessary instrumentation. Continued support will be provided following their trip. Dr. Orme-Zavaleta, who works at NHEERL's research facility in Corvallis, Oregon, has training in toxicology, wildlife science and public health. She recently completed a study evaluating vector-borne disease transmission to human and wildlife populations.
This research collaboration supports the U.S. Department of State's program to retrain former Soviet defense scientists. EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) is providing technical support to Uzbek scientists in designing environmental research in coordination with the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) to promote the nonproliferation of weapons technology of mass destruction. The Center coordinates the efforts of numerous governments including the U.S., as well as international organizations, and industries to provide weapons scientists from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
countries with opportunities to redirect their talents to peaceful science.
For additional information, please contact: Ann Brown, Public Affairs, at brown.ann@epa.gov.