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National Center for Toxicological Research Also referred to as: NCTR


 

Mission

Address FDA’s needs with high-quality research and serve as a global resource for collaboration, training, and innovative scientific solutions.

Vision

Conduct scientific research to provide reliable data for FDA’s decision-making and develop innovative tools and approaches that support FDA’s public health mission. 


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The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) is the only FDA Center located outside the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The one-million square foot research campus in Jefferson, Arkansas plays a critical role in the missions of FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote and protect public health. 

Regulatory science researchers, academia, and other regulatory science research organizations and groups from around the world investigate, learn, and train at the Federal facility. NCTR, FDA's internationally recognized research center, plays a critical role in FDA’s mission.  The unique scientific expertise of NCTR is critical in supporting FDA product centers and their regulatory roles. 

  • Provides interdisciplinary toxicology research solutions and consultations that support and anticipate future FDA needs to guard and improve personal and public health.
  • Uses multidisciplinary research teams to develop novel translational research approaches for safety-assessment protocols that provide FDA with faster, more accurate, and economical methods for addressing regulatory questions.
  • Engages in collaborations with scientists across FDA and other government agencies, industry, and academia to strengthen the scientific foundations vital to developing sound regulatory policy, and to promote the international standardization and global harmonization of regulatory science.
  • Participates in national and international consortia that provide harmonized standards for technologies and risk-evaluation methods vital to FDA’s regulatory and public-health mission.
  • Provides and encourages multidisciplinary workforce development and fosters national and international collaborations with scientists from government, academia, and industry.


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About NCTR Research

NCTR Annual Report Cover Thumbnail

NCTR Publications

Scientific publications and NCTR Research Highlights, NCTR Science Insights, Fact Sheets, Annual Reports, etc.

Artificial Intelligence concept Artificial Intelligence

Bioinformatics Tools

Tools created at NCTR to develop methods for the analysis and integration of complex omics datasets.

vials and test tubes

NCTR Research Offices & Divisions

NCTR Research Offices and Divisions work closely in a seamless effort to support FDA's mission to bring safe and efficacious products to the market rapidly and to reduce the risk of adverse health effects from products on the market.

Aerial photo of National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) building.

NCTR Celebrates 50 Years of Scientific Achievement

Since being established in 1971 by President Nixon, NCTR has become an internationally recognized research center and plays a critical role in FDA’s mission. The unique scientific expertise of NCTR’s staff is critical in supporting FDA product centers and their regulatory roles.

Following a 10-minute exposure of Staphylococcus aureus HAR12 to a nanostructured copper surface, a distinctive flower-like structure formed, and the cells adhered to this unique configuration (Courtesy: Dr. Kidon Sung)
Following a 10-minute exposure of Staphylococcus aureus HAR12 to a nanostructured copper surface, a distinctive flower-like structure formed, and the cells adhered to this unique configuration (Courtesy: Dr. Kidon Sung)

NCTR Research Focus Areas

NCTR's research areas of focus are antimicrobial resistance, artificial intelligence, biomarker identification, nanotechnology, and perinatal/maternal health.

People at a meeting reviewing reports

NCTR Science Advisory Board Committee

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) to NCTR advises the NCTR Director in establishing, implementing, and evaluating the research programs that assist the FDA Commissioner in fulfilling his regulatory responsibilities.



Contact Us

Contact Point
NCTR
National Center for Toxicological Research
Food and Drug Administration
3900 NCTR Rd
Jefferson, AR 72079
Hours Available
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov
(870) 543-7517
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