DOE's Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR)

CEDR Scientific Team. On the left is Gregory Nichols ORISE CEDR Co-Project Manager, in the middle is Dr. Sara Howard ORISE CEDR Co-Project Manager, and on the right is Dr. Linh Duong DOE CEDR Program Manager.”
CEDR Scientific Team

The Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) is the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) electronic database comprised of health studies of DOE contract workers and environmental studies of areas surrounding DOE facilities. CEDR enhances DOE's epidemiologic research program by facilitating independent access and use of data collected during studies of the health impacts associated with working at or living near DOE facilities or operations.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies have a long history of epidemiologic research programs. The main focus of these programs has been health and mortality studies of the DOE work force. These epidemiologic studies began in 1964 with a feasibility study of workers at the Hanford facility. Subsequently, worker studies were undertaken at many DOE facilities to examine possible health effects of working in these facilities.

DOE developed the Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) program to facilitate and broaden access to the data collected during its epidemiologic research programs. CEDR is a DOE public-use repository of data from occupational and environmental health studies of workers at DOE facilities and nearby community residents. DOE recognizes the benefits of data sharing and supports the public's right to know about worker and community health risks. CEDR provides independent researchers and educators with access to de-identified data collected since the Department's early production years. Current CEDR holdings include more than 80 studies of over 1.5 million workers at 34 DOE sites. Access to these data is at no cost to the user. CEDR includes a computer information system for storing CEDR data and related descriptive information and capabilities for independently accessing them. Serving as a data repository for researchers and educators, CEDR supports the spirit of openness in government and makes valuable contributions to science and to public health and safety. The CEDR Program aims to:

  • Permit access to data from the DOE epidemiological studies program to researchers and other interested stakeholders.
  • Provide opportunities for new scientific understandings.
  • Identify and document other data potentially useful for health studies.
  • Create a central repository of data related to epidemiologic and health concerns.

Studies of other populations exposed to radiation continue to be supported by DOE, including the classic studies of atomic bomb survivors administered by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), and the Million Person Study (MPS).

CEDR is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. To learn more about CEDR and to access the repository click here: Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) (orau.gov)

For more information about the CEDR program, please contact Dr. Linh Duong.
 

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