Combining epidemiology and radiobiology to assess cancer risk in the breast, lung, thyroid and digestive tract after exposures to ionizing radiation with total doses in the order of 100 mSv or below
The main aim of EpiRadBio, which was launched in April 2011 for a duration of 4 years, is to combine epidemiology and radiobiology to assess cancer risks in the breast, lung, thyroid and digestive tract after exposures to ionizing radiation with cumulated equivalent doses of the order of 100 mSv or below. The LRO heads a subproject focusing on the role of genomic instability and individual susceptibility in radiation-induced cancers and more specifically a work package with the goal to test the assumptions of individual susceptibility to genomic instability occurring during cellular aging in patients developing radiation-induced tumour by measuring telomere lengths in a nested case-control study of the French Haemangioma Cohort as well as to test the hypothesis of the bystander effect in the development of cancer (breast, skin, thyroid) after human exposure to low doses of radiation at the organ site using the same cohort.
RENEB is a Coordination Action (CSA-CA) project launched on January 1st 2012 for a duration of 4 years. The goal of RENEB is to establish sustainable European network in biological dosimetry involving laboratories and organisations from 16 countries that can support in a coordinated way the response in case of major nuclear or radiological emergency in Europe. The LRO is responsible for developing the internal communication tools for RENEB and has been actively involved in a number of biodosimetry laboratory inter-comparison studies as well as the development of novel analytical techniques for biodosimetry.
The DoReMi Network of Excellence addresses the health risks of low doses of ionising radiation such as those that are encountered in the environment, occupationally and in the course of medical diagnostic procedures by promoting the sustainable integration of low dose risk research in Europe in order to aid the effective resolution of the key policy questions identified by the High Level Expert Group (HLEG) on Low Dose Risk Research. Comprised of 3 scientific and 3 coordination work packages, DoReMi was launched in January 2010 with 12 original partners for a duration of six years and has now grown to a total of 32 partners following 3 competitive calls. The LRO is the head of the coordination work package on infrastructures which is committed to identifying critical infrastructure resources within and outside of DoReMi, promoting their use and facilitating access to these research platforms to meet the needs of the radiation biology community to drive forward low dose research.
The OPERRA project, which was launched in June, 2013 for a duration of 4 years, aims to build up a coordination structure that has the legal and logistical capacity to administer future calls for research proposals in radiation protection on behalf of the European Commission. Among OPERRA’s initiatives are the set-up of a sustainable organization to manage radiation protection research in Europe; the involvement of key partners in radiation protection as well as national and international funding agencies; and the enrollment of universities and academic partners, notably from new EU Member States, major stakeholders and authorities as well as other technical platforms inside and outside Euratom. The LRO is the head of a task with the aim to maximize the use of and access to Europe-wide research infrastructures within and outside the radiobiology community and to reach out to and integrate with flagship projects of the EC, ESFRI, and major networks of excellence outside of radiobiology and radiation protection .