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Reflections on the NIEHS Virtual Consortium funding mechanism (ViCTER) and what it has taught us about the future of transdisciplinary science.

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Title: Reflections on the NIEHS Virtual Consortium funding mechanism (ViCTER) and what it has taught us about the future of transdisciplinary science.
Authors: Veiga-Lopez A; Department of Pathology, Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA., Stevens HE; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA., Rand M; Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA., Tjalkens R; Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA., Claus Henn B; Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA., Marsit CJ; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA., Bernstein AI; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA., Bonner MR; Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA., Hoffmann HM; Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA., Meliker JR; Department of Family, Population, & Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: jaymie.meliker@stonybrook.edu.
Source: Toxicology [Toxicology] 2025 Dec; Vol. 518, pp. 154283. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 17.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Ireland NLM ID: 0361055 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-3185 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0300483X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Toxicology Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: Limerick : Elsevier
Original Publication: Amsterdam. Elsevier/North-Holland.
MeSH Terms: Interdisciplinary Research*/economics , Interdisciplinary Research*/trends , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (U.S.)*/economics , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (U.S.)*/trends , Research Support as Topic* , Translational Research, Biomedical*/economics , Translational Research, Biomedical*/trends , Environmental Health*/economics , Environmental Health*/trends , Translational Science, Biomedical*/economics , Translational Science, Biomedical*/trends, Humans ; United States
Abstract: Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: All authors report financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Authors have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
In environmental health science, collaboration across disciplines is often encouraged but rarely specifically solicited through funding mechanisms. The United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER) program fostered and promoted early-stage transdisciplinary collaborations among basic, clinical, and population-based researchers in the environmental health field. ViCTER awards are typically three-year R01 grants that include at least one NIEHS-funded PI and engage partners from distinct disciplines or institutions. By design, ViCTER created space for scientifically diverse research teams, including epidemiologists, clinicians, toxicologists, molecular biologists, often across multiple institutions, to work side-by-side, not sequentially, to address complex environmental challenges. This commentary reflects on how ViCTER catalyzed scientific advances, transformed careers, and created a model for the future of translational environmental health research.
(Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Consortia; Environmental health; Epidemiology; Interdisciplinary; Toxicology
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20250919 Date Completed: 20251001 Latest Revision: 20251007
Update Code: 20251007
DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2025.154283
PMID: 40972998
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: All authors report financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Authors have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.<br />In environmental health science, collaboration across disciplines is often encouraged but rarely specifically solicited through funding mechanisms. The United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER) program fostered and promoted early-stage transdisciplinary collaborations among basic, clinical, and population-based researchers in the environmental health field. ViCTER awards are typically three-year R01 grants that include at least one NIEHS-funded PI and engage partners from distinct disciplines or institutions. By design, ViCTER created space for scientifically diverse research teams, including epidemiologists, clinicians, toxicologists, molecular biologists, often across multiple institutions, to work side-by-side, not sequentially, to address complex environmental challenges. This commentary reflects on how ViCTER catalyzed scientific advances, transformed careers, and created a model for the future of translational environmental health research.<br /> (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
ISSN:1879-3185
DOI:10.1016/j.tox.2025.154283