Global Risk Assessment Training Center (GRATC)

GRATC’s mission is to increase access to and availability of
foundational chemical risk assessment capacity building,
training, and resources, particularly in low
and middle-income and resource-limited regions.

Background

The development of a Global Risk Assessment Training Center (GRATC) within HESI was approved by the HESI Board of Trustees in June 2021 as a mechanism to broaden HESI’s global impact and build upon existing expertise and programs within the HESI portfolio related to chemical risk assessment. GRATC officially launched in Q4 2021.

Mission

To become a leader in catalyzing the development, implementation, training, and communication of scientific approaches to chemical risk assessment on a global scale, with an aim to enhance both human and ecological health.

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Objectives

Create partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders whose interests and/or programs align with the GRATC mission.

Identify region-specific needs related to chemical risk assessment training and capacity building (i.e., defining both topics and target audiences).

Develop and provide courses and materials (de novo or leveraged / partnered with existing resources) that are science-focused and that can be translated to different scenarios and regions.

Identify best training and outreach practices and develop suitable mechanisms to facilitate training, outreach, and communication.

Utilize training course feedback and stakeholder discussions to identify potential new HESI programmatic areas and collaborators.

Scope

Chemical risk assessment (agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, personal care products / cosmetics, pharmaceuticals in the environment, food safety).

Science-based information and methodologies that inform and are used for chemical risk assessment; will not advocate for any single approach, policy, or regulation but will facilitate information and knowledge transfer.

Training, capacity building, and dissemination of science – not development of new approaches, tools, or frameworks.