Characterizing Exposure of Veterans to Agent Orange and Other Herbicides Used in Vietnam: Scientific Considerations Regarding a Request for Proposals for Research (1997)

results in a possible future epidemiologic study of herbicide-related health effects in Vietnam veterans.

A list of the proposed management and investigators should be submitted, along with a description of activities to be performed by the individual investigators and their curriculum vitae. The research team must have expertise in performing exposure assessments for epidemiologic studies and should include an experienced epidemiologist, as well as individuals experienced in handling military records.

It is recognized that specific expertise in different types of exposure models (i.e., records based vs. biomarker based) may not be available within the same research group or organization. Collaborations between scientific researchers and individuals or organizations familiar with military records and combat operations are encouraged.

The costs and schedule of proposed activities must be delineated. Proposals will be evaluated in terms of cost-effectiveness, as well as the capacity to perform the proposed work within the schedule provided, using the resources described.

Research sponsored under the RFP should include the following products:

• Scientific progress reports should be submitted every 6 months and presentations of research progress every 12 months, beginning 6 months from the start of the subcontract. The progress reports should include a description of the overall progress; descriptions of the specific work accomplished, including problems encountered and corrective actions; pertinent data or other information in sufficient detail to explain significant results achieved and any preliminary conclusions resulting from analysis and scientific evaluation of data accumulated to date; and a description of the work to be accomplished over the following 6 months. Presentations of research progress are intended to facilitate interaction between the committee and the researchers. Presentations should be made in front of the committee or its designated representatives and should include all of the information requested for progress reports.

• At the completion of the research, a report should be submitted including full details on the proposed exposure assessment methodology; the

degree to which exposure can be determined, both qualitatively and quantitatively, by this methodology; the details of the validation studies performed, including both methods and results; and a description of how important confounding variables will be evaluated.

The committee encourages the dissemination of scholarly findings resulting from conduct of the research and encourages investigators to disseminate their findings through publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Institute of Medicine. 1994. Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Institute of Medicine. 1996. Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1996. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Midwest Research Institute (MRI). 1967. Assessment of Ecological Effects of Extensive or Repeated Use of Herbicides. MRI Project No. 3103-B. Kansas City, MO: MRI. (NTIS AD-824-314.)

National Research Council, Assembly of Life Sciences. 1974. The Effects of Herbicides in South Vietnam. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

Young AL, Reggiani GM, eds. 1988. Agent Orange and Its Associated Dioxin: Assessment of a Controversy. Amsterdam: Elsevier.