Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PIANOFORTE (Partnership for european research in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation : towards a safer use and improved protection of the environment and human health.)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-06-01 bis 2023-11-30
The ambition of this Partnership is to have an impact on radiation protection of humans and the environment in many ways. By gaining and consolidating scientific knowledge, the results of the research activities will support the implementation of the European Basic Safety Standards, to help cope with the new requirements and harmonize the practices throughout Europe. The holistic approach covers both fundamental science for exposure and effects, risk assessment, perception and management, as well as development of measurement techniques, innovative tools, methods and best practices to cope with the existing and emerging issues related to radiation exposure, thus creating a major impact for society. New knowledge will contribute to evidence-based recommendations at international level and informed risk communication.
The general objective of this Partnership is to improve radiological protection of members of the public, patients, workers and environment in all exposure scenarios and provide solutions and recommendations for optimised protection in accordance with the BSS. This objective will be reached by multidisciplinary research, innovation and citizen involvement activities in a collaborative approach of scientists, regulators and stakeholders. Research projects focusing on identified research and innovation priorities will be selected through competitive open calls.
The general objective will be reached through the achievement of six specific objectives:
- To innovate in ionising radiation based medical applications combating cancer and other diseases by new and optimised diagnostic and therapeutic approaches improving patient health and safety and supporting transfer of the R&I outcome to practice.
- To improve scientific understanding of the variability in individual radiation response and health risk of exposure.
- To support regulations and implementation of the BSS and improve practices in the domain of low dose exposures of humans and the environment by better understanding and reducing uncertainties in risk estimates.
- To provide the scientific basis to recommendations, procedures and tools for assuring better preparedness to response and recovery from a potential radiological event or nuclear accident and to improve the know-how to manage legacy sites.
- To maintain a sustainable expertise capability on radiation protection issues across the EU by fostering the availability, the use, and the sharing of existing state-of-the-art infrastructures at European level and beyond, and conducting education and training activities.
- To involve all the relevant stakeholders at the different stages of the implementation of research projects and assure efficient dissemination, knowledge management and uptake of results
The general objective of this Partnership is to improve radiological protection of members of the public, patients, workers and environment in all exposure scenarios and provide solutions and recommendations for optimised protection in accordance with the BSS. This objective will be reached by multidisciplinary research, innovation and citizen involvement activities in a collaborative approach of scientists, regulators and stakeholders. Research projects focusing on identified research and innovation priorities will be selected through competitive open calls.
The general objective will be reached through the achievement of six specific objectives:
- To innovate in ionising radiation based medical applications combating cancer and other diseases by new and optimised diagnostic and therapeutic approaches improving patient health and safety and supporting transfer of the R&I outcome to practice.
- To improve scientific understanding of the variability in individual radiation response and health risk of exposure.
- To support regulations and implementation of the BSS and improve practices in the domain of low dose exposures of humans and the environment by better understanding and reducing uncertainties in risk estimates.
- To provide the scientific basis to recommendations, procedures and tools for assuring better preparedness to response and recovery from a potential radiological event or nuclear accident and to improve the know-how to manage legacy sites.
- To maintain a sustainable expertise capability on radiation protection issues across the EU by fostering the availability, the use, and the sharing of existing state-of-the-art infrastructures at European level and beyond, and conducting education and training activities.
- To involve all the relevant stakeholders at the different stages of the implementation of research projects and assure efficient dissemination, knowledge management and uptake of results
Scientific objectives of Pianoforte are addressed through calls for projects. During the period covered by this report, a first call for projects was organized in 2023 around 3 scientific topics defined following a rigorous selection process. It led to the selection of 9 projects. In addition,
Specific objective 1: To innovate in ionising radiation based medical applications combating cancer and other diseases by new and optimised diagnostic and therapeutic approaches improving patient health and safety and supporting transfer of the R&I outcome to practice.
This objective was addressed in the first open call where one of the topics selected was as follows:
“Individualised diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with regard to optimisation of the benefit/risk ratio.”
Specific objective 2: To improve scientific understanding of the variability in individual radiation response and health risk of exposure.
This objective was not addressed within the framework of the first open call. It will be in subsequent calls.
Specific objective 3: To support regulations and implementation of the BSS and improve practices in the domain of low dose exposures of humans and the environment by better understanding and reducing uncertainties in risk estimates.
This objective was addressed within the framework of the first open call since one of the topics selected was as follows:
“Developing a knowledge base for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis of ionising radiation-induced cancer to improve human health risk assessment.”
Specific objective 4: To provide the scientific basis to recommendations, procedures and tools for assuring better preparedness to response and recovery from a potential radiological event or nuclear accident and to improve the know-how to manage legacy sites.
This objective was addressed in the first open call where one of the topics selected was as follows:
“Development of risk assessment and risk management approaches and technological capabilities to cope with scenarios arising from threats due to war or armed conflict situations or natural disasters taking into consideration social, ethical and legal issues”.
Specific objective 1: To innovate in ionising radiation based medical applications combating cancer and other diseases by new and optimised diagnostic and therapeutic approaches improving patient health and safety and supporting transfer of the R&I outcome to practice.
This objective was addressed in the first open call where one of the topics selected was as follows:
“Individualised diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with regard to optimisation of the benefit/risk ratio.”
Specific objective 2: To improve scientific understanding of the variability in individual radiation response and health risk of exposure.
This objective was not addressed within the framework of the first open call. It will be in subsequent calls.
Specific objective 3: To support regulations and implementation of the BSS and improve practices in the domain of low dose exposures of humans and the environment by better understanding and reducing uncertainties in risk estimates.
This objective was addressed within the framework of the first open call since one of the topics selected was as follows:
“Developing a knowledge base for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis of ionising radiation-induced cancer to improve human health risk assessment.”
Specific objective 4: To provide the scientific basis to recommendations, procedures and tools for assuring better preparedness to response and recovery from a potential radiological event or nuclear accident and to improve the know-how to manage legacy sites.
This objective was addressed in the first open call where one of the topics selected was as follows:
“Development of risk assessment and risk management approaches and technological capabilities to cope with scenarios arising from threats due to war or armed conflict situations or natural disasters taking into consideration social, ethical and legal issues”.
No result beyond the state of the art was achieved during the first period as the projects were not launched