European Union's research related to the health effects of ionizing radiation

Full text: The European Union (EU) has played a leading role in fostering cooperative research in Europe through successive multi-annual framework programmes (FP). FP6 (2002-2006), like FP5 (1998-2002), includes a programme on radiation protection. Its main objective is to better understand and quantify the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation at low doses and low dose rates. In this area during FP5, the EU has funded 24 research projects with a mean number of 7 institutes. The approach has combined 7 epidemiological, 15 basic biological and 1 mechanistic modelling studies to gain more insight into the risks of developing cancer after exposure to radiation. The programme in basic radiation biology aims at providing a sound biological basis for radiation protection. The research areas being covered include DNA damage response processes, mechanisms of- and genetic susceptibility to- induced cancer, and treatment of radiation injury. The nature and extent of damage to DNA and the consequences of its repair are being examined in eight projects as a function of various factors. These include the dose, dose rate, radiation quality, cell metabolism, nuclear architecture, chromatin structure, telomeres, as well as genetic factors or developmental stages of animals. Four projects look at the mechanisms and cellular consequences of genomic instability and bystander effects. Experimental animals are being used to examine variations in individual sensitivity to radiation-induced cancers and to understand mechanisms of cancer induction. The programme is supporting five projects on leukaemia and solid tumours of the lung, bone, thyroid, breast, and skin. These studies are being complemented by three investigations in humans aimed at identifying the mechanisms of- and susceptibility to- secondary cancers after radiotherapy and thyroid cancers induced by the Chernobyl accident. The genetic susceptibility to acute and chronic effects of radiation is also being investigated. Two large tissue banks are being established in support of these projects. One project aims at improving the management of radiation injury in those exposed to high doses of radiation