NIEHS Follow-Up: Assurances of a Robust, Independent Journal?

The saga of Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), the embattled flagship journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is not quite over.

A new chapter has begun with the appointment of Hugh A. Tilson as editor-in-chief of EHP. He has already joined the NIEHS staff and will assume editorial duties Jan. 1, 2008. Tilson's CV is here. NIEHS leaders have assured Tilson in writing that he will have editorial independence, and have assured Congress in sworn testimony that the journal will get an adequate budget.

Additional assurances to Congress that NIEHS is rolling back many of the changes that came during the tenure of David Schwartz as director came from Acting Director Samuel Wilson in a Sept. 25, 2007, hearing. Those assurances were further articulated in Wilson's written answers to follow-up questions from the House Oversight Committee, dated Nov. 19. Text of response.

• Previous Article: WatchDog of Oct. 3, 2007.