Guidance from the SAC

2020 Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting

 

Each year, the SAC provides feedback for the USTUR’s faculty and staff. This feedback comes in the form of general comments on the work that the USTUR is conducting, and recommendations as to what the USTUR should focus on in the coming year.

Comments and Recommendations

1. The SAC expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the USTUR’s submission of papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations given at scientific meetings.
   The SAC recommended that continued emphasis be placed on submission of high-quality papers and presentation of significant new scientific findings at professional meetings – these are important legacies of the USTUR and individual staff members.
2. The SAC expressed satisfaction with the professional credentials of the USTUR staff members.
   The SAC recommended that each USTUR staff member review their credentials and where appropriate join additional organizations or achieve Diplomate or Fellow status that will reflect formally on their expertise and the capabilities of the USTUR.
3. The SAC is pleased with the level of interactions of USTUR staff with various components of WSU, especially recognizing their location at three different sites: Richland, Spokane, and Pullman.
   The SAC urges the USTUR Director and staff to continue seeking ways to enhance interactions with other WSU faculty through participation in seminar programs, lectures in formal courses, graduate student mentorship, and collaborative research. With new individuals appointed, such as WSU Provost and Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, it is important to make new leaders aware of the unique capabilities and contributions of the USTUR via briefing and visits.
4. The SAC is pleased with the progress made in creating a Data Quality Assurance Plan (DQAP) to guide USTUR operation.
   The SAC urges the completion of the DQAP at the earliest possible date. Consideration should be given to (a) measurement of all analytes/matrices performed both on-site and off-site, (b) Measurement Quality Objectives (accuracy, precision, sensitivity, selectivity, and completeness) linked to the DQAP decision needs, (c) quality tolerance limits for different quality measurement parameters linked to various Measurement Quality Indicators, and (d) data verification and validation objectives and practices to verify that Measurement Quality Objectives are met.
5. The SAC continues to express strong support for collecting current bioassay monitoring data for all living USTUR Registrants.
   The SAC urges that this important initiative be completed as soon as possible recognizing the potential and unique value of these measurements.
6. The SAC is pleased with the progress made in updating a strategic plan with specific 5-year and 10-year goals.
   The SAC urges an “evergreen” approach to annual updating of the long-range strategic plan. This includes monitoring progress in meeting specific benchmarks.
7. The SAC is pleased with progress made in updating operating procedures for control, release, and potential return of tissue and data from the USTUR archives. The SAC strongly endorses articulation of a specific policy on use and re-use of tissue as approved in advance by the USTUR.
   The SAC urges completion of this Standard Operation Procedure as soon as possible.
8. The SAC is very supportive of appropriate use of USTUR tissues and data by external collaborators anticipating that most such collaboration will result in jointly authored papers submitted to peer-reviewed journals.
   The SAC urges updating as soon as possible the Policy and Procedure for USTUR pre-submission review and approval of all publications prior to submission of publication. These Policies and SOPs should help assure appropriate acknowledgement of the role of the USTUR and inclusion as appropriate of USTUR staff as co-authors.
9. The SAC appreciates the importance of USTUR staff carefully managing interactions with all USTUR Registrants and their representatives. This can be especially challenging for deceased Registrants who may have a diverse array of alleged representatives.
   The SAC urges the USTUR to periodically review and update its Policy and Procedures for providing access to information on Registrants to ensure access is provided to only legitimate representatives.
10. The SAC noted the continued active involvement of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the USTUR program.
    The SAC strongly endorses the participation of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellows in the USTUR and endorses activities that will enhance mutually beneficial activities.
11. The SAC is pleased with the continued collaboration of the USTUR staff with the WSU Foundation and presentation of the Annual Herbert M. Parker Lecture.
    The SAC is strongly supportive of this collaboration as an approach to enhancing interactions with WSU Tri-Cities and the local scientific community.
12. The SAC offers compliments to Sergei Tolmachev, the USTUR Director, on his election to a 6-year term on the Board of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. His election to this prestigious position offers strong testimonial to his professional expertise. It also provides an important linkage for the continued use of USTUR findings in development of radiation protection standards.