Case Studies
The case studies listed here are for demonstration purposes exclusively. They are neither intended as references nor as validation by RSI clients. These case studies are a sample of the work done by RSI or directly led by its staff prior to joining RSI. They are intended as an illustration of the type of work that current RSI staff are able to deliver.
Health Canada requested an external review following significant public criticism of its handling of a pharmaceutical recall. The case involved a contraceptive drug that was withdrawn due to packaging errors, and the department faced questions about whether it had acted...
To enhance the oversight of cannabis production under its regulatory mandate, the Cannabis Directorate sought expert support in developing a risk-based decision-making framework tailored to its compliance and enforcement responsibilities. The directorate aimed to better assess and respond to non-conformance...
The Alliance of Blood Operators (ABO) sought to move its members toward a consistent, transparent approach to risk-based decision-making. Having worked through the development of a framework, the organization now wanted formal adoption, external validation, and practical application to real-world...
A comprehensive systematic review was undertaken to assess experimental evidence regarding the potential health risks associated with artificial sweeteners, specifically focusing on cancer and pre-term delivery. The client sought a rigorous analysis of both in vivo and in vitro experimental...
The client sought support to finalize a Commission Member Document (CMD) for the re‑licensing of a nuclear facility. Recognizing the complexity and sensitivity of reactor re‑licensing, they requested assistance in crafting communication materials that were both technically comprehensive and accessible...
To advance the Government of Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), a virtual expert workshop was planned and hosted to refine and evaluate a Canadian framework for the Environmental Public Health Approach (EPHA) to chemicals. The initiative focused on developing case...
The client sought to improve understanding of uncertainties surrounding the application of mixture assessment factors (MAFs) for aquatic receptors, specifically those estimated using the KEMI methodology. While the KEMI MAF approach is considered technically robust, its assumptions—particularly about chemical-specific controls,...
To support the refinement and implementation of its ecological risk guidance, a federal department responsible for marine conservation engaged expert assistance in risk communication. The primary objective was to ensure that the national guidance for ecological risk assessment—developed as part...
To support decision-making around modifications to opioid agonist treatment delivery, a detailed risk assessment was requested to evaluate the integration of secure dispensing devices for direct patient access to hydromorphone. Building on a previously conducted preliminary assessment, the work required...
The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) commissioned a systematic review and meta-analysis to support evidence-informed decision-making around age-related cognitive decline among practicing physicians. The initiative was led by CPSA’s Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP), which sought to...
Demonstrating the safe use of chemical mixtures remains a critical challenge in toxicological science. In recent years, studies have suggested that chemicals can exhibit dose additivity—causing a combined effect—even when each chemical individually is below its effect threshold. This project...
The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations asked RSI to develop a suite of online tools to support food regulators and the food industry in applying risk-based approaches to food safety. These organizations...
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) engaged Risk Sciences International to provide strategic advisory services aimed at enhancing its regulatory compliance model through risk-based methodologies. FCAC’s objective was to explore new approaches that would integrate digital tools and data-driven...
To support regulatory decision-making, a comprehensive risk assessment was conducted to evaluate how varying lethality performance standards would impact the public health burden of salmonellosis associated with Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meat and poultry products. The primary objective was to quantify the...
An independent regulatory organization responsible for oversight of Alberta’s safety codes system sought to strengthen its capacity for risk-based decision-making. The organization aimed to ensure that regulatory actions—particularly in the area of petroleum storage tanks—were guided by clear, evidence-based prioritization...
Government authorities faced recurring challenges in communicating health risks from smoke caused by both wildfires and residential burning. While these events were becoming more frequent and more severe, the public health messages often failed to resonate with affected communities or...
To support public communication around emerging drinking water concerns, RSI was engaged to develop accessible, scientifically grounded materials on lithium exposure and its potential health effects. The work focused on equipping stakeholders with clear, credible information that could inform both...
UN-Habitat sought to establish a new global platform to bring coherence to international dialogue on sustainable urbanization. At the outset, this initiative had no name, no identity, and no governing structure, only the recognition that cities faced pressing challenges requiring...
Authorities in Vietnam sought targeted expertise to strengthen the country’s ability to detect, assess, and respond to food safety threats. This initiative had two linked objectives: building a comprehensive, transparent, and reliable national food safety information system, and enhancing risk...
The International Herald Tribune (IHT) sought guidance at a time of profound change in the media landscape. With the World Wide Web emerging and competition intensifying from global and regional editions of established outlets such as The Economist, The Wall...
Establishing science-based drinking water guidelines for manganese requires integrating diverse regulatory approaches, emerging modeling tools, and evolving toxicological evidence. The client commissioned this project to systematically assess existing manganese drinking water guidelines and the scientific foundations upon which they are...
In the mid-1990s the International Organization for Migration (IOM) faced one of the most pivotal moments in its history. Though it counted 76 member states, it remained outside the United Nations system, and its work was increasingly perceived to overlap...
To support more effective health policy and pandemic preparedness, this project examined how environmental health factors intersect with chronic disease and influence pandemic resilience. The client sought evidence to clarify how exposures to contaminants in air, water, and soil contribute...
Facing renewed challenges in securing a reliable domestic plasma supply, Canadian Blood Services sought support to apply a Risk-Based Decision-Making (RBDM) framework. The objective was to assess the value and implications of expanding domestic plasma collection and processing capacity in...
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sought RSI’s support in exploring how human health impacts from zoonotic diseases could be compared consistently with other public health risks. Traditionally, animal disease control decisions relied on veterinary and economic measures, but there was...
Health Canada sought to enhance its Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) tool, originally developed over 15 years ago for stakeholders responsible for drinking water systems. With advancements in probabilistic modeling and microbial risk assessment, the client required updates to reflect...
In response to increasing public concern about the historical use of McIntyre Powder—an aluminum-based substance once administered to miners in Ontario to prevent silicosis—the client sought expert guidance on managing risk communication related to potential health implications. Widespread media coverage...
To enhance the methodological rigour of its scientific assessments, EFSA sought to develop a standardised framework for problem formulation (PF) within its non-application scientific assessment protocols. The goal was to support the planning phase of these assessments by establishing a...
To support the Chemicals Management Plan under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), Health Canada sought expert peer consultation for a draft screening assessment report (DSAR) evaluating 47 inorganic substances identified as priorities. The client required independent scientific and technical...
To support more consistent and quantitative assessments of new micro-organisms under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Health Canada's New Substances Program (NSP) sought to refine the tools and processes within its Microbial Risk Assessment Framework (MRAF). The NSP had previously...
