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Non-targeted effects of ionising radiation

Objective

The universality of the target theory of radiation-induced effects is challenged by observations on non-targeted effects such as bystander effects, genomic instability and adaptive response. Essential features of non-targeted effects are that they do not require direct nuclear exposure by radiation and they are particularly significant at low doses. This new evidence suggests a need for a new paradigm in radiation biology. The new paradigm should cover both the classical (targeted) and the non-targeted effects. New aspects include the role of cellular communication and tissue-level responses. A better understanding of non-targeted effects may have important consequences for health risk assessment and, consequently, on radiation protection. Non-targeted effects may contribute to the estimation of cancer risk from occupational, medical and environmental exposures. In particular, they may have implications for the applicability of the Linear-No-Threshold (LNT) model in extrapolating radiation risk data into the low-dose region. This also means that the adequacy of the concept of dose to estimate risk is challenged by these findings. Moreover, these effects may provide new mechanistic explanations for the development of non-cancer diseases. Further research is required to determine if these effects, typically measured in cell cultures, are applicable in tissue level, whole animals, and ultimately in humans. The general objectives of the NOTE project are: to investigate the mechanisms underlying non-targeted effects, to investigate if non-targeted effects modulate cancer risk at low doses, to investigate if ionising radiation can induce non-cancer diseases, to investigate factors modifying non-targeted responses, to assess the relevance of non-targeted effects for radiation protection setting the scientific basis for a modern, more realistic, radiation safety system and to contribute to the conceptualisation of a new paradigm in radiation biology.

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Call for proposal

EURATOM-2005-6-FIXEDDEADLINE
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

IP - Integrated Project

Coordinator

SATEILYTURVAKESKUS - RADIATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY AUTHORITY
EU contribution
No data
Address
Laippatie 4
HELSINKI
Finland

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Last update: 26 March 2013

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/36465

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