RSI Expert-Natalia Shilnikova

Natalia (Natasha) Shilnikova

Senior Health Risk Analyst

MD, PhD

Joined RSI in 2011

Personal introduction

I earned my first professional degree in Medicine from Perm State Medical Institute, now Perm State Medical Academy (Perm, Russia), and a PhD in Medical Sciences from the State Research Center Institute of Biophysics, now the Federal Medical Biophysics Center of the Federal Medico-Biological Agency (FMBA) of the Russian Federation. I worked for many years at the Laboratory of Epidemiology of the Southern Ural Biophysics Institute (Ozyorsk, Russia). My primary responsibility involved the analysis of mortality and cancer incidence in the cohort of workers at the Russian nuclear complex Mayak and in the population living near the nuclear facility. My work was largely supported by contracts with the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy. I moved to Canada in 2007 and joined the University of Ottawa McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment. At the McLaughlin Centre, I worked on several projects related to the assessment of health risks from physical, chemical and biological agents. I joined RSI in December 2011.

Current Focus

Dr. Shilnikova is a Senior Health Risk Analyst with RSI. Her academic background includes a degree in Medicine and a Ph. D in Medical Sciences. She has been a team member on several RSI projects involving toxicity, epidemiology, human health risk assessment and drug reviews. Dr. Shilnikova has been involved in a critical review of the literature related to biomarkers of exposure to manganese for the International Manganese Institute; research and development of toxicity profiles for several chemicals on Health Canada’s Domestic Substances List (DSL); a clinical drug review of botulinum toxin for the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB); evidence synthesis on factors associated with abnormal call rate in breast cancer screening and a rapid review on cancer risk associated with cannabis use for the Canadian Partnership against Cancer (CPAC); a critical review of evidence for and against screening of older physicians for cognitive decline for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

References

Selected Publications

Shilnikova N, Momoli F, Taher MK, Go J, McDowell I, Cashman N, Terrell R, Iscan Insel E, Beach J, Kain N, Krewski D. Should we screen aging physicians for cognitive decline? Aging Ment Health. 2023 Sep 10:1-12. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2252371.

Shilnikova N, Karyakina N, Farhat N, Ramoju S, Cline B, Momoli F, Mattison D, Jensen N, Terrell R, Krewski D. Biomarkers of environmental manganese exposure. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2022 Apr;52(4):325-343.

Jensen N, Terrell R, Ramoju S, Shilnikova N, Farhat N, Karyakina N, Cline BH, Momoli F, Mattison D, Krewski D. Magnetic resonance imaging T1 indices of the brain as biomarkers of inhaled manganese exposure. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2022 May;52(5):358-370.

Karyakina NA, Shilnikova N, Farhat N, Ramoju S, Cline B, Momoli F, Mattison D, Jensen N, Terrell R, Krewski D. Biomarkers for occupational manganese exposure. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2022 Sep;52(8):636-663

Willhite CC, Karyakina NA, Nordheim E, Arnold I, Armstrong V, Momoli F, Shilnikova NS, Yenugadhati N, Krewski D. The REACH registration process: A case study of metallic aluminium, aluminium oxide and aluminium hydroxide. Neurotoxicology. 2021 Mar;83:166-178.

Taher MK, Farhat N, Karyakina NA, Shilnikova N, Ramoju S, Gravel CA, Krishnan K, Mattison D, Wen SW, Krewski D. Data on systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic evidence on the association between perineal use of talc powder and risk of ovarian cancer. Data Brief. 2020 Feb 20;29:105277.

Taher MK, Farhat N, Karyakina NA, Shilnikova N, Ramoju S, Gravel CA, et al. Critical review of the association between perineal use of talc powder and risk of ovarian cancer. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, NY). 2019;90:88-101.

Duport P, Jiang H, Shilnikova NS, Krewski D, Zielinski JM. Database of radiogenic cancer in experimental animals exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation. Journal of toxicology and environmental health Part B, Critical reviews. 2012;15(3):186-209.

Crump KS, Duport P, Jiang H, Shilnikova NS, Krewski D, Zielinski JM. A meta-analysis of evidence for hormesis in animal radiation carcinogenesis, including a discussion of potential pitfalls in statistical analyses to detect hormesis. Journal of toxicology and environmental health Part B, Critical reviews. 2012;15(3):210-31.

Shilnikova NS, Krewski D, Tyshenko MG. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk management in Nordic countries. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management. 2010;14(3-4):284-303.

Shilnikova NS, Krewski D, Tyshenko MG. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk management in Belgium. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management. 2010;14(3-4):179-91.

Shilnikova NS, Krewski D, Tyshenko MG. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk management in Spain. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management. 2010;14(1-2):145-56.

Shilnikova NS, Krewski D, Tyshenko MG. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk management in the Netherlands. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management. 2010;14(3-4):192-202.

Tyshenko MG, Farhat N, Lewis R, Shilnikova N, Krewski D. Applying a precautionary risk management strategy for regulation of nanotechnology. International Journal of Nanotechnology. 2010;7(2-3):243-64.

Zielinski JM, Garner MJ, Band PR, Krewski D, Shilnikova NS, Jiang H, et al. Health outcomes of low-dose ionizing radiation exposure among medical workers: a cohort study of the Canadian national dose registry of radiation workers. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 2009;22(2):149-56.

Zielinski JM, Ashmore PJ, Band PR, Jiang H, Shilnikova NS, Tait VK, et al. Low dose ionizing radiation exposure and cardiovascular disease mortality: cohort study based on Canadian national dose registry of radiation workers. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 2009;22(1):27-33.

Zielinski JM, Shilnikova NS, Krewski D. Canadian National Dose Registry of radiation workers: overview of research from 1951 through 2007. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 2008;21(4):269-75.

Sokolnikov ME, Gilbert ES, Preston DL, Ron E, Shilnikova NS, Khokhryakov VV, Vasilenko EK, Koshurnikova NA. Lung, liver and bone cancer mortality in Mayak workers. Int J Cancer. International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer. 2008; 123(4):905-911.

Shilnikova N, Preston D, Okatenko P, Gilbert E, Ron E, Sokolnikov M, Kuznetsova I, Khokhryakov V, Vassilenko E, Koshurnikova N. Mayak worker mortality: Overview and site-specific risks. [Journal: Conference Paper] Radiation Research. 2007; 167(3): 352-353.

Shilnikova NS, Preston DL, Ron E, Gilbert ES, Vassilenko EK, Romanov SA, et al. Cancer mortality risk among workers at the Mayak nuclear complex. Radiation research. 2003;159(6):787-98.

Koshurnikova NA, Mushkacheva GS, Shilnikova NS, Rabinovich EI, Petrushkina NP, Hall P, et al. Studies on the Ozyorsk population: health effects. Radiation and environmental biophysics. 2002;41(1):37-9.

Selected Reports

Dr. Shilnikova is a co-author of the following (selected) reports:

2023                 Cannabis Directorate Risk Model Project. Information Gathering and Scientific Literature Review to Support the Relative Risk Ratings. Prepared for Health Canada

2022                 Age-related cognitive decline in physicians. Prepared for College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta

2022                 Information gathering on risk mitigation practises for indoor air quality. Prepared for Health Canada

2021                 Summary of the potential for inflammatory and immune response to vaping product use. Prepared for Health Canada

2020                 Hazard Assessment of Aluminum Metal (CAS# 7429-90-5), Aluminum Hydroxide (CAS# 21645-51-2), Aluminum Oxide (CAS# 1344-28-1).Prepared for Aluminum REACH Consortium.

2020                 Potential Biomarkers of Environmental Exposure to Manganese. Prepared for International Manganese Institute.

2019                 Clinical Drug Review for WSIB Formulary Consideration. Botulinum Toxin. Prepared for Workplace Safety Insurance Board.

2019                 Rapid Review of Evidence on Cannabis Use and Cancer Risk. Prepared for Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. March 2019.

2018                 Evidence Synthesis on Factors Associated with Abnormal Call Rate in Breast Cancer Screening. Prepared for Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

2018                 Ethical Considerations in Risk Assessment. Background Paper prepared for Health Canada Workshop on Ethics in Risk Assessment.

2018                 Reproductive and Endocrine Effects Associated with Parabens. Prepared for Health Canada.

2017                 Academic literature search for international colorectal cancer screening indicators. Prepared for Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

2017                 Exposure Information Gathering for CMP3 Flame Retardant Substances. Prepared for Health Canada

2016                 Human Health Risk Assessment of Aluminum in Drinking Water. Prepared for Health.

2016                 Evidence Synthesis on Post-Approval Surveillance of Approved Novel Cancer Drugs. Prepared for Canadian Partnership against Cancer

2015                 Review of Regulations Regarding Fluoride in Drinking Water. Prepared for Rio Tinto Alcan, Héritage Industriel / Legacy Management Europe

2014                 Artificial Sweeteners and the Risk of Cancers and Pre-Term Delivery: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies. Prepared for the International Prevention Research Institute (IPRI).

2014                 Identification and Review of the Recent (2009-June 2013) Scientific Literature Relevant to the Human Risk Assessment for Mn & its Inorganic Compounds. Prepared for the International Manganese Institute.

2014                 ESSA Technologies, J. Laurence, Risk Sciences International, Trent University, and Trinity Consultants. 2014. Kitimat Airshed Emissions Effects Assessment. Prepared for BC Ministry of Environment, Smithers, BC. 205 pp. + appendices.

2013                 ESSA Technologies, J. Laurence, Limnotek, Risk Sciences International, Rio Tinto Alcan, Trent University, Trinity Consultants, and University of Illinois. 2013. Sulfur Dioxide Technical Assessment Report in Support of the 2013 Application to Amend the P2-00001 Multimedia Permit for the Kitimat Modernization Project. Draft for Consultations. Volume 1: Executive Summary. Prepared for Rio Tinto Alcan, Kitimat, B.C.

2012                 EPA’s Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments, Volume 1. In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). February 2012.

Natasha Shilnikova at the international expert panel workshop organized by RSI and the International Manganese Institute (IMnI)