Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2016
Keywords:
Action 7 - Medical radiation protection research: MELODI, EURAMED, Action 9 - Facilitation of research in advanced topics of radiation protection
Authors:
G. Frija, C. Hoeschen
DOI:
10.1594/esi2016/ESI-0050
Description of activity and work performed
Throughout 2015,
the ESR and other medical associations – the European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS),
the European Federation of Organisations in Medical Physics (EFOMP),
the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM),
and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) – have been working to develop a strategic research agenda (SRA) for medical radiation protection,
as this field has been underrepresented and fragmented to date.
In addition to giving greater visibility to medical radiation protection in the research community,
the aim is to also influence the EU research programme Horizon 2020 by proposing research priorities within its area of expertise.
The first version of the SRA for medical radiation protection has been reviewed and approved by all medical societies involved and will be published in 2016.
This document represents the first time that the medical community has reached consensus on a joint approach.This unity will help to ensure greater visibility in radiation protection research and opportunities for funding in future research programmes,
which represents a major success for the medical community.
The next step following the finalisation of the SRA is the establishment of an independent medical platform,
modelled after existing research platforms such as MELODI or European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS).
To that end a steering committee was set up,
consisting of representatives of the five medical associations,
to prepare a draft concept for consideration by the boards of the associations.
There may be an opportunity for EIBIR,
the ESR’s European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research,
to provide management services to a future platform.
The aim of this endeavour is to have more visibility and collaboration with the nuclear sector,
to keep the SRA for medical radiation protection updated,
and to ensure medical radiation protection research remains on the EU’s research agenda.