Selected Presentations
2020 Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting
WSU/CPPS News – Meier, K.
Dr. Meier discussed news from WSU Spokane’s campus and the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS). Topics included the synergy between CPPS and USTUR, administration in WSU Heath Sciences and CPPS, and CPPS’ enrollment and expenditures.
Administrative and Financial Developments – Bedell, M.
Ms. Bedell summarized administrative and financial information including: personnel support, the FY2020 budget vs. spending, the FY2021 budget, and salary increases.
2019 SAC Recommendations & 2019 Overview – Tolmachev, S.
Dr. Tolmachev described the USTUR’s response to each of the SAC’s recommendations from last April’s meeting. This was followed by an overview of FY2020 activities, which included: appointing a new adjunct member, hiring a post-doctoral researcher, radiochemistry progress, and the USTUR’s research activities.
Data Quality Objectives– Tabatadze, G.
Dr. Tabatadze summarized the USTUR’s Data Quality Objectives (DQO) document, which was drafted in response to past advisory committee recommendations. He summarized the radiochemical process at the USTUR, statistical criteria such as the critical value and MDA, and practical considerations relevant to setting quality control limits.
Registrant Statistics and IRB – McComish, S.
Ms. McComish briefly summarized Registrant statistics and recent donations. This was followed by a summary of changes that were made to the USTUR’s institutional review board protocol. Changes included an updated scientific collaboration policy and new data request forms.
Database Harmonization – McComish, S.
Ms. McComish discussed an effort to harmonize the THEMIS, radiochemistry, and planchets databases such that they function as a single unit. The USTUR’s existing system of databases was described, as well as goals to automate data entry and eliminate duplicated data. Several practical examples were provided.
Uncertainty Project – Šefl M.
Mr. Šefl presented preliminary findings of his post-doctoral research project to perform an uncertainty analysis on organ activities and doses from plutonium intakes. He discussed case selection and presented biases in the post-mortem activities and equivalent doses for 12 initial cases. Biases were calculated for both liver and skeleton.
Research Plan and Operation: Plan for FY2021 – Tolmachev, S.Y.
Dr. Tolmachev summarized the USTUR’s research and operational goals for the coming year. He discussed anticipated milestones for operational tasks, radiochemistry status, internal research projects, collaborative research, professional services, and publications.