An ad hoc committee will organize and convene a public workshop to examine the potential to use genome editing tools, such as CRISPR/Cas9, TALENS, and “zinc finger” nucleases, to advance environmental health research (the effect of environmental exposures on human health). Speakers will explore current and potential research applications of genome editing (including epigenome editing) in cell-based and animal studies, preliminary use of genome editing in environmental health studies, and key scientific considerations for future use of genome editing tools in environmental health research. Among the topics that invited participants may discuss are the use of genome/epigenome editing to:

• Develop more human-relevant research models for the study of environmental determinants of health outcomes, including cell-based, tissue base, and whole animal models.
• Develop new in vitro and in vivo toxicity screening tests
• Improve research models for mechanistic studies of environmental health outcomes
• Identify health outcomes of environmental exposures more rapidly and accurately than existing approaches
• Study transgenerational effects of environmental exposures
• Test hypothesis of causality from environmental epidemiological studies

The workshop will result in a workshop proceedings, written by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.