| Chair(s): |
Dominique LAURIER, France |
Secretary: |
George VARDULAKIS (george.vardulakis@oecd-nea.org) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-Chair(s): |
Vinita CHAUHAN, Canada Marie-Claude GREGOIRE, Canada Nicholas PRIEST, Canada Olivier ARMANT, France Dmitry KLOKOV, France Paul LOCKE, United States | ||
| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* | ||
| Russia (Suspended*) | |||
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. | |||
| Full participant(s): |
European Commission Under the NEA Statute | ||
| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement | ||
| Date of creation: | 01 June 2021 | ||
| End of mandate: | 31 May 2027 |
Mandate (Document reference):
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract of document NEA/CRPPH/HLGLDR(2024)2/FINAL
Mandate
Background
The importance of low-dose/low-dose rate research is widely recognised, and it is pursued by multiple publicly funded organisations (e.g. specialised government agencies, national research foundations, the European Commission). There are efforts made on national and regional level to collaborate and co-ordinate the broad range of research activities already done and ongoing across the globe. To leverage these efforts, it is important to strengthen the worldwide network of low-dose/low-dose rate effect research community, identify/improve funding opportunities to promote research activities and implementing organisations to provide meta-coordination on a global level.
The NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) at its 77th meeting recommended that an ad-hoc High-level Group on Low-Dose Research (HLG-LDR) should be created to examine the situation and to propose a way forward. An initial group of research funding and implementing organisations developed a vision and a broad approach to facilitate the identification of ongoing and planned research programmes to be co‑ordinated. The CRPPH agreed at its 78th meeting to establish HLG-LDR as a level-two NEA body to address global low dose research co-ordination.
During its 81st meeting, the CRPPH acknowledged the significant achievements of the HLG-LDR, including the creation of the Global Register of Low Dose research projects, the publication of the first of the kind Adverse Outcome Pathways related to radiation exposure, and recognised the escalating global interest in low-dose areas within the broader scope of the nuclear industry and medical applications of ionising radiation. In this context, a three-year extension of the HLG-LDR mandate was approved in principle at both the 81st meeting of the CRPPH in April 2023 and the 7th plenary meeting of the HLG-LDR in June 2023.
Scope
The HLG-LDR will support radiological protection policy, regulation, and implementation choices by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of research through global networking for the co-ordination of ongoing and future low-dose research projects. This involves developing innovative tools for information sharing and dissemination, identifying and addressing research gaps in low-dose effects, and fostering improved communication with stakeholders. These efforts aim to streamline worldwide research coordination and ensure transparent communication of research objectives and outcomes to decision makers and other relevant stakeholders.
Objectives
The specific objective of the HLG-LDR is to maintain and enhance a global network that facilitates collaboration among ongoing and planned low-dose / low-dose rate ionising radiation research programmes and encourages the collective sharing of information and resources.
To achieve this, the HLG-LDR will:
i) Accelerate the outreach of the radiological protection community, with a focus on policy and decision makers, in addition to researchers; Develop initiatives to bring closer radiation and chemical communities.
ii) Educate, train and inform the next generation of risk assessors using a variety of approaches.
iii) Develop coordination of existing biobanks (animal and human) and initiate a community of practice.
iv) Pursue the improvement and dissemination of the Global Register of Low-Dose Research Projects worldwide and develop a long-term strategy for its management.
v) In close interaction with the OECD Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) programme, further develop radiation related AOPs, communicate its benefits and challenges to stakeholders, showcase its usefulness through case studies, and improve the review/endorsement process.
Working methods
The HLG-LDR will conduct its activities through plenary meetings (once a year, and more, as needed, upon decision of the working party and taking into account the Secretariat’s resources) and through the organisation of seminars and workshops as agreed by the members of the HLG‑LDR.
The HLG-LDR will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair(s) among its members (Bureau). The Bureau co-ordinates and facilitates the work of the HG-LDR. The Bureau would preferably meet twice a year, with one meeting normally held in conjunction with the annual plenary meeting.
The HLG-LDR reports to the CRPPH at least once per year.
Additionally, the HLG-LDR
i) identifies resources and schedules its activities. Activities of the HLG-LDR will be financed at least partially by voluntary contributions;
ii) forms ad hoc bodies to work on specific projects and to organise workshops, as appropriate; and
iii) creates topical groups for more task oriented work in consultation with the CRPPH.
Membership
The HLG-LDR delegates shall be composed of CRPPH nominated representatives from NEA member countries. Delegates shall include a diverse range of senior specialists who have considerable experience and knowledge in the area of low-dose/low-dose rate research activities. This representation will be wide-ranging and include research funding and implementing specialists.
Interactions
The HLG-LDR will interact as appropriate with other NEA standing technical committees, OECD Directorates and national organisations of NEA member countries.
Where appropriate, experts of relevant international organisations or international fora may be invited to attend the meetings and contribute to the HLG-LDR’s work. Such relevant organisations are, for example:
The principles underpinning these interactions are: identifying synergies, co-ordinating efforts and avoiding duplication of work optimising resources.
Deliverables
The HLG-LDR, with the support of the Secretariat, will produce reports and other documents deemed appropriate by its members and the CRPPH to improve the dissemination of information regarding low-dose/low-dose rate research co-ordination.
For this mandate, the expected deliverables are as follows:
