His current research interests focus on the assessment of the toxicity of lunar dust and developing a hand-held monitor for volatile organic compounds present in spacecraft air.

James served as an inhalation toxicologist for the U.S. Army at the Chemical Research Development and Engineering Center in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD from 1982 to 1989.

There he was responsible for projects on multispecies inhalation toxicity to achieve accurate human estimates on chemical warfare agents.

James' personal activities center on patient safety advocacy, which developed as a result of loss of his 19-year-old son to medical errors.

His newsletter is designed to inform the public of new scientific discoveries published in major medical journals that could affect their safety when they seek healthcare.