HTDS Guide > Public Involvement and Scientific Review > Review Process

HTDS Guide

Public Involvement and Scientific Review
	Section Summary Reviewers and Their Roles Review Process

Review Process

The HTDS involved extensive scientific peer review and public involvement.

Study Design

The study design, or protocol, describes all the methods used for conducting the study, such as recruiting participants and conducting thyroid examinations.

Public interest groups, scientists and members of the public were invited to comment on the protocol in public meetings in the Northwest. They were also encouraged to send written comments to CDC.

The protocol was evaluated by the HTDS Advisory Committee, and approved by CDC, the Institutional Review Board of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Federal Office of Management and Budget.

Pilot Study

In the early 1990s, researchers began recruiting participants and collecting data for a pilot study to determine the feasibility of a large-scale epidemiologic study. A Pilot Study Report was issued in 1994, peer reviewed by the NAS, and approved by the HTDS Advisory Committee. In 1995, both panels agreed that a full-scale epidemiologic study was feasible. The NAS also recommended that the researchers develop an analysis plan describing how the data would be analyzed.

Analysis Plan

The Analysis Plan was completed in 1997 and peer reviewed by the NAS. It was also reviewed and approved by the HTDS Advisory Committee. In addition, the public was invited to offer its own views on the plan.

HTDS Draft Report

CDC released the HTDS Draft Report in January 1999. An extensive review by the NAS concluded that the study was scientifically sound but had probably overstated the certainty of the findings. The NAS recommended a number of technical revisions and clarifications.

Following the review, the research team conducted additional technical work to address the NAS recommendations as well as those received from the public and other independent scientists. The HTDS Final Report represents completion of the study.

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