Statistical research needs in mechanistic modelling for carcinogenic risk assessment.

If the broad spectrum of mechanistic research conducted on an environmental carcinogen is to be used in quantifying cancer risks, statisticians must play a key role. Statistical methods are critically needed for a scientifically valid analysis of a complicated series of linked experimental findings. This will require a greater understanding of the underlying biology than is common in statistical consulting, aiding in the development of complicated mechanistically based mathematical descriptions of mean response and in the creation of statistical methods for the estimation of model parameters (e.g. likelihoods) able to use both the underlying model and much of the available data.