Table 2. Summary of major gaps and research needs for cross-cutting issues.

Health Topic	Major Gaps and Needs Identified
Exposure and biomarkers	• Better characterize spatial and temporal variability in exposures to HAP by studying critical behavioral patterns and individual- and household-level characteristics.• Further develop and field test small/light and highly time-resolved personal monitors for particulate matter and other important pollutants (e.g., size-specific and chemical constituents of particulate matter, carbon monoxide).• Develop standardized and comprehensive exposure-assessment protocols (including questionnaires to understand critical factors in exposure variability), suitable for use with intervention-evaluation and epidemiologic studies.• Develop and validate methods to estimate dose, including biomarkers of exposure, especially for cumulative exposures.• Assess the role of validated biomarkers of early effect or early disease activity in studies of chronic disease.
Women's empowerment	• In research and evaluation, include sex-disaggregated analysis and pay attention to gender dimensions of behaviors that affect the uptake of clean cooking interventions and the health risks associated with fuel collection.• In epidemiologic studies on health outcomes, recognize that women may not access health services with the same frequency as men, resulting in bias in studies from clinics and hospitals.• Assess the potential educational and economic benefits of improved stoves or fuels that provide more free time and reduced health risks for women and girls.
Behavioral change	• Ensure that behavioral research plays a more central role in stove and program design to optimize the safe and exclusive use of new stoves and clean fuels to minimize exposure and burn risks.• Evaluate behavior-change interventions for proper and exclusive use of improved stoves and fuels, exposure reductions, and safety improvements.
Program evaluation	• Strengthen cooperation between investigators and implementers to develop more appropriate study designs using standardized methods for assessing health impacts.• Make the results of evaluation available as rapidly as possible and in a manner that encourages widespread learning and quality improvement.