National Center for Toxicological Research facts for kids

Aerial view of the Jefferson Laboratories of the FDA campus. This is where the NCTR does its important work.

The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) is a special part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Its main job is to study how different products affect our bodies. They research how things like medicines, food, and even makeup might be harmful or safe. Dr. William Slikker, Jr. has been the director of NCTR since 2005.

An NCTR scientist working with a microarray. This tool helps them measure genes in tissue samples to understand how products affect our bodies.

What is the NCTR?

The NCTR focuses on understanding how chemicals and other substances interact with living things. This helps the FDA make sure that the products we use every day are safe. They look into the tiny details of how things work inside our bodies. This research helps protect everyone's health.

NCTR's Interesting History

The place where the NCTR is located has a unique past. It's right next to the Pine Bluff Arsenal, which is a military base. Before 1969, the United States Army used this facility for research related to defense. However, in 1969, President Richard Nixon signed a special order. This order stopped such research at federal places. Because of this, the Army gave control of the site to the FDA. The NCTR was officially started by a presidential order in 1971.

Where is the NCTR Located?

The NCTR research center is in Jefferson, Arkansas. You can find it off Interstate 530. It's quite special because it's the only FDA center that is not near the Washington, D.C. area. The campus is very large, covering about 1 million square feet. That's a lot of space for important scientific research!