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.
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
To support the quality and defensibility of regulatory decision-making under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), Health Canada engaged Risk Sciences International to coordinate an independent external peer review of the Draft Screening Assessment Report (DSAR) for Selected C3-C5...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The project centered on supporting the development of a methodology that could eventually be implemented as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) process. The objective was to help formalize and potentially automate how professional judgment is applied when...
Health Canada sought expert support in advancing its efforts to develop screening values for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) commonly found in residential indoor environments. Previous work on indoor air contaminants had focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), where screening values...
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,...
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...
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...
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 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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
An international airport authority sought a comprehensive assessment of passenger and vehicle traffic flow after receiving complaints of confusion and safety concerns. Reports indicated that passengers were struggling to interpret signage, often stopping too long to process graphics, which caused...
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...
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...
To support international efforts in mitigating deliberate threats to the food system, the World Health Organization commissioned an update to its earlier guidance titled Terrorist Threats to Food. The revision aimed to broaden the original scope by addressing not only...
