(b) In carrying out the program established under subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Institute shall, with respect to toxicology, carry out activities
(1) to expand knowledge of the health effects of environmental agents;
(2) to broaden the spectrum of toxicology information that is obtained on selected chemicals;
(3) to develop and validate assays and protocols, including alternative methods that can reduce or eliminate the use of animals in acute or chronic safety testing;
(4) to establish criteria for the validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative testing and to recommend a process through which scientifically validated alternative methods can be accepted for regulatory use;
(5) to communicate the results of research to government agencies, to medical, scientific, and regulatory communities, and to the public; and
(6) to integrate related activities of the Department of Health and Human Services.
