Protecting public health and the environment through science and engineering. ORD Offices and Centers are situated in 10 facilities across the country.
Science at EPA provides the foundation for credible decision-making to safeguard human health and ecosystems from environmental pollutants. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the scientific research arm of EPA. Its leading-edge research informs Agency decisions and supports the emerging needs of EPA stakeholders, including the Agency’s state, tribal, and community partners. In 2019 OR
D restructured for the first time in 25 years to better address the increasingly complex environmental challenges of the 21st century. ORD's work is organized into six research programs that identify the most pressing environmental health research needs with input from Agency offices, partners, and stakeholders. Our Strategic Research Action Plans updated every few years outline the research underway in the programs. We also serve as the Agency’s National Program Manager for Regional Laboratories. Our Research Programs
Air and Energy Research Program
Chemical Safety for Sustainability Research Program
Health and Environmental Risk Assessment
Homeland Security Research Program
Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research Program
Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program
Our Offices and Centers
Office of Science Advisor, Policy, and Engagement (OSAPE)
Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM)
Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE)
Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA)
Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER)