140 Experts from 29 countries, NGOs and international organisations met in person and online to attend the NEA-EPRI workshop on low-dose research co-ordination held at the NEA headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt on 25-26 June 2024.
The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) through its High-Level Group on Low-Dose Research (HLG-LDR) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) through its International Dose Effect Alliance (IDEA) organised jointly a workshop on initiatives of low-dose research co-ordination, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss recent developments and to share knowledge.
The workshop featured contributions from about 50 speakers with diverse backgrounds, and discussions that spanned the spectrum of low-dose research initiatives worldwide. The programme’s breadth emphasised the priority and relevance of the workshop’s objectives.
In his opening remarks, NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV stressed the importance of low-dose research.
“Few topics are more important than low-dose research, a subject discussed and debated for decades,” NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV said in his opening remarks. “We are on the threshold of a new era in the nuclear sector and how we assess and regulate low doses will have important impacts on the future. Are we making the right safety decisions? Are we too conservative? The only way to settle the debate is through research. Co-ordinating the research by players from around the world will bring the hope of a resolution closer.” The Director-General also congratulated the HLG-LDR on its progress in this field and emphasised the need to take further steps in research in order to close the gaps between epidemiological and biological data to allow regulators to base their policies on thorough understanding of low-dose effects.
Darcy Campbell, Principal Team Lead, Radiation Safety, EPRI, shed light on EPRI’s work in the field.
Darcy Campbell, Principal Team Lead, Radiation Safety, EPRI, thanked the NEA for hosting this timely forum for dialogue and knowledge sharing in the field of low-dose research. Representing an independent research organisation that supports the electrical power sector, Ms Campbell highlighted EPRI's efforts in establishing the IDEA network, an ongoing initiative to create a global platform for information exchange, discussion, co-operation, and collaboration in low-dose ionising radiation research, and expressed hope that this inaugural event would be the first of many.
Dominique Laurier, Chair of the High-Level Group on Low-Dose Research (HLG-LDR) presented the co-ordination strategy and related activities of the group.
Dominique Laurier, Chair of the HLG-LDR, highlighted the critical need to understand low-dose radiation, defined as doses below 100 mGy, given the predominance of such exposure situations in standard applications. Despite some evidence, uncertainties remain about cancer risks below 100 mGy, necessitating further research. It was emphasised that while risks at very low doses are low, effective communication and precise data extrapolation are essential. The HLG-LDR is enhancing research through global networking and initiatives like the Rad/Chem Adverse Outcome Pathways joint task group, aiming to integrate chemical and radiation research to understand pathways from molecular initiating events to adverse health outcomes.
The two-day workshop featured a rich programme, with the first day dedicated to technical aspects and information sharing. In addition to the NEA's HLG-LDR and EPRI's IDEA network, research platforms such as ALLIANCE and MELODI from Europe, COHERE from Canada, and PLANET from Japan participated in the workshop. These networks provided insights into their work, further enhancing the global perspective of low-dose research initiatives.
Roundtable discussion on open dialogue on low-dose research.
On the second day, the workshop shifted focus to practical aspects, such as addressing weaknesses in low-dose research co-ordination and governance and ensuring clear risk communication. The agenda included two roundtable discussions: the first on the perspectives of research funders and international organisations involved in science-based policies, and the second on structuring an open dialogue on low-dose research within the radiological protection community and beyond.
The critical need for increased funding to support low-dose research was identified, highlighting its importance for mobility, training, and economic support for scientists. Experts also stressed the value of communication activities, particularly those aimed at younger audiences, to attract new talent. The complexity of explaining low-dose research to the public was noted, with a call for efforts to better convey associated risks and acknowledge areas where further research is needed to support radiological protection policies and regulations.
Significant progress has been made since the 1960s when cancer risk was first observed at 1 Gy. Workshop speakers supported synthesising workshop findings to demonstrate result viability while recognising the challenge of integrating diverse outcomes. They advocated for quantifying the magnitude of risk and avoiding oversimplified messages and acknowledged the need for a long-term perspective to produce research findings and results.
One key takeaway from the workshop is the importance of reiterating the large spectrum of what is known about low doses while actively working to broaden the understanding of what remains unknown. This ongoing effort is essential for advancing research, improving communication, and ultimately enhancing radiation protection policies and practices.
Workshop proceedings will be published jointly by the NEA and EPRI. Speaker presentations are available for download on the event page.
About the NEA High-Level Group on Low-Dose Research (HLG-LDR)
The NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) recommended at its 77th annual meeting the establishment of the HLG-LDR. The group has reviewed the issue of low-dose research co-ordination since then with the objective of analysing the current situation and proposing strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of research through global networking and co-ordination of ongoing and future low-dose research projects. Five years later, the HLG-LDR has evolved into a valuable tool for NEA member countries and beyond. A significant highlight is the development of a Global Register of research projects which can be accessed here.
