The Second HSPH-NIEHS Center Retreat was again held at MIT Endicott House in Dedham, MA.  The Center Associate Director Howard Hu welcomed the participants and members of the External Advisory Committee.  With the Center Director, Dr. Joe Brain, and the other Center Associate Director, Dr. Louise Ryan, he gave an introduction to the Center.  The morning session included a review of recent finding from each of the Research Cores, presented by the Core Directors - Urban and Occupational Particles Core by Dr. Doug Dockery, Metals Core by Dr. Howard Hu, and the Organic Pollutants Core by Dr. Russ Hauser.  There was also a panel discussion of "Synergy between NIEHS Center Grant and Past, Present, and Future Large Grants and Projects."  The panelists represented the Superfund Application (Dr. Karl Kelsey), the Children's Center (Dr. Howard  Hu), the EPA Particle Center (Dr. Petros Koutrakis), the NIEHS Cardiovascular Effects of Particles Program Project (Dr. Doug Dockery), the Cyprus International Institute (Dr. Petros Koutrakis), and the Kuwait Public Heath Survey (Dr. John Evans).

The afternoon session included presentations by current Pilot Project recipients (Drs. Susan Korrick, Jay Mizgerd, Melissa Perry, and David Senn).  Ann Backus then described activities in the Community Outreach and Education Program and the new Center website. There was also an update on the Facilities Cores - Biological Analyses Core by Dr. Les Kobzik, Environmental Statistics Core by Dr. Louise Ryan, and the Exposures and Environmental Analyses Core by Dr. Jack Spengler.  The session ended with comments and discussion with the members of the External Advisory Committee.  Approximately 80 people attended.