Background
The main purpose of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology program is to provide a framework for international cooperation among researchers and other professionals. By bringing together experts in significant areas of human life and development, opens up the possibilities of new ideas, approaches and solutions. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology COST program is founded partially by the member states, who delegate the management committee members. The Action Diagnosis, Monitoring and Prevention of Exposure-related Noncommunicable Diseases (DiMoPEx) fosters capacity-building by bringing together basic scientists, clinical researchers and practitioners in the relevant (sub-)disciplines and organizing interdisciplinary collaboration and training in research that addresses the societal challenges outlined above. Members aim to implement new concepts in joint interdisciplinary research and training initiatives to enhance networking between expert centers and offer a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers across Europe. DiMoPEx also aims to attract and focus the interests of the next generation of early career investigators on key emerging issues of exposure-related disease burden and various aspects of exposure assessment sciences. |
The predominant goal is to help scientists, physicians and health officials to prevent and reduce health impacts associated with various exposure scenarios and train highly skilled researchers of health-environment (including gene-environment) interactions in the etiology of exposure- related NCDs within seven working groups |
The overarching idea of the DiMoPEx project (http://dimopex.eu/working) groups is to teach and train about how to learn to include evidence-based exposure assessment (in research and clinical settings). Using modern methods such as ambient monitoring and human biomonitoring methods (WG1, WG 2), the various biomarkers of effect and susceptibility alongside with the clinical diagnostic methods and biomarker-based evaluation of lifestyle factors (WG3, WG 6) can be combined, resulting in the development of cooperative projects that are too broad for coverage by individual disciplines (i.e. epidemiology or traditional environmental medicine). Within several joint research projects, DiMoPEx partners are already focusing on the impact of pollution on human health. The projects are concentrating on several pollutants (particulate mass fractions PM2.5 and PM10, a range of metals, inorganic gases and organic compounds) in living and working environments and their health impacts [138]. |
The DiMoPEx Action anticipates initiating health research with important benefits for public health and the healthcare system of the European Community. DiMoPEx will catalyze and stimulate interaction of scientists with policy-makers on exposure-related diseases of concern to society (see below, WG 7 for more details on cooperation with the WHO scientists, implementation of the new knowledge, involving external partners and policy makers). See below for detailed working groups description. |
Outline
DiMoPEx project goals identified by the project partners
How to improve diagnosis, monitoring and prevention of NCDs?
Current status and future needs to be addressed
Implementation of the research goals within the framework of the 7 WGs
WG 1 advancing towards evidence-based exposure data
Exposure assessment – From environmental to individual exposure
WG 5 hazards characterization, risk identification: Carcinogenicity bioassays
Diagnosis of cancer as NCD needs biomarker(s) of early effect (detection of preclinical lesions) and new animal study approaches
Current two-year experimental schemes may mask a carcinogenic response
An integrated experimental approach
Biomarker of early response to assess the effects of preventive measures and identify individuals at high risk of developing a particular NCD
Potential biological effect markers – Circulating nucleic acids in human blood
Epigenetic markers in early detection of NCDs
Enhancement of genotoxicity and susceptibility markers
Human MN
Biomonitoring human exposure to genotoxic agents –- CBMN cytome assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes
MN assay in buccal-exfoliated cells
WG 2 human biological monitoring – More than (just) analysis of biomarkers
Exposures to chemicals and particles
Air pollution and particulate matter
Oxidative potential – a possible metric of particle toxicity
ROS and oxidative stress in particle-induced toxicity
Beyond oxidative potential – the role of redox signaling in cellular responses to PM
Rapid methods for the detection of disease/exposure biomarkers, infections, food and environmental contaminants
WG 3: Environmental and occupational epidemiology overarching other WGs
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provide a sustainable research and training program in the field of environmental and occupational epidemiology for early career investigators;
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In collaboration with other WGs, provide opportunities for participation in environmental and occupational epidemiological research, more specifically in the development of novel exposure–response relationships, in the area of exposure-related diseases;
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provide training in the epidemiology of exposure-related diseases – computer skills training will focus on epidemiological modelling. Including spatio-temporal, exposure-response and interaction modelling.
WG 4 provides solutions for ethical aspects of data collection and communication for other groups
Ethics framework
Informed consent
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The authority or status of the person providing the information may decisively affect the outcome.
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The accuracy of the information provided can be limited.
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Correct understanding of the information is a prerequisite and cannot be assumed if not checked.
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The right to decide is not always synonymous with the ability to decide for oneself.
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Decisional autonomy can be in conflict with social constraints.
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The consequences of a decision may be affected by a perception of power inequality, for instance, when access to a right can be denied as a consequence of the outcome.
Communication/right-to-know
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lack of relevance of the results at an individual level,
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limited time and/or resources,
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fear of causing (unnecessary) alarm,
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scientific uncertainty,
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lack of possible remediation.
Participatory (community engagement) approaches
Communication
Human data sampling and collection: Imminent new OECD and EU data privacy regulations
WG 6 steps towards NCD diagnosis and monitoring
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reduction of causative exposures/risk factors;
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early detection and management of respective disorders;
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surveillance of endangered populations to monitor trends in risk factors and diseases (WG6 in cooperation with other WGs).
Current human studies applying outlined methods on various exposure scenarios
Exposure to welding fumes and cardiovascular toxicity
Chimney sweeping and risk of cancer
Pesticides exposure and GxE testing in Parkinson’s disease
WG 7: Public health protection – how to stimulate interaction between scientist and policy makers
Collaboration with WHO
Dissemination and implementation of new knowledge within a scientific network
Summary and conclusions
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Environmental hazardous exposure is among the top risk factors for chronic disease mortality. A better understanding of the health-environment (including the gene-environment) and its interactions in the etiology of NCDs allows more adequate preventative actions that could decrease disease morbidity and mortality for many of the NCDs that are of major public concern.
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Within the COST action DiMoPEx, models will be developed for the assessment of hazardous exposures and their potential health consequences using collected data and available toxicological/epidemiological evidence.
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DiMoPEx partners believe that combining state-of- the-art exposure assessment methods with clinical efforts should grant a more solid basis for both early recognition and diagnosis strategies, as well as for the advancement of preventive strategies in Europe.
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The predominant goals of the DiMoPEx project arinclude helping scientists, physicians and health officials in preventing and reducing health impairments associated with various exposure scenarios and to train highly researchers in these disciplines with the requisite skills.
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Risk communication expertise developed within the DiMoPEx action and tools to inform exposed subjects and the general public are expected to benefit society.