The ICCA-LRI has identified the following priority research areas:

• Innovating Chemical Testing

  • LRI research develops tools and approaches that can reduce chemical testing costs, time, and animal use as well as facilitate meeting regulatory data requirements. These tools also have the potential to expedite design of new materials, products, and chemical solutions.

• Understanding Everyday Exposures to Chemicals

  • LRI exposure research can provide the critical information link for appropriately assessing the potential health and environmental risks from chemicals; this approach can decrease the likelihood of decisions based on hazard data alone. Predictive models offer potential resources to efficiently and cost-effectively generate estimates for consumer exposures and to address current exposure data gaps for the majority of chemicals in commerce

• Translating Research Outcomes for Product Safety

  • LRI research represents industry’s commitment to advance chemical safety assessment and to increase consumer confidence that new and existing products are safe for their intended use. Increasing consumer confidence can lead to greater acceptance of innovation from the chemical industry.

The three LRI regional programs each support research projects within the priority research areas. These priority areas, which by design are interrelated and interdisciplinary, provide an overall structure for the global LRI program. However, the specific projects funded within these areas can vary from region to region and from year to year depending on industry priorities, financial resources, and other drivers. A clear advantage of this research diversity among the LRI regions is that it adds both depth and texture to the overall LRI research program.

The following matrix table describes specific research topic areas within each of the regional programs that highlight this diversity within the three priority areas.