MELODI-2012

The workshop offers an update of recent low-dose research issues, and an opportunity to participate in the MELODI Low Dose Research Platform, a major step in the long term goals that the European Low-Dose Risk research intends to achieve. The main goal of MELODI (http://www.melodi-online.eu/) is to develop and maintain a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) in the field of low-dose radiation research, and to actively promote its implementation. DoReMi Network of Excellence funded by the European Commission is supporting the setting up of the Platform and addressing some of its research needs (www.doremi-noe.net).

In line with one of the main SRA goals, a major aim of the workshop will be to set all topics in an interdisciplinary context. The environment of the workshop will provide to the attendants the possibility to actively participate in the discussion about the next steps for implementing the SRA.

The Workshop features plenary lectures, topical discussions in breakout sessions as well as poster contributions. The theme of the first day “Low dose risk research – state of the art” provides an introduction to the MELODI activities and the SRA and an update on recent epidemiological studies and dosimetric aspects of low dose studies. Potential implications of cardiovascular disease risk for radiation protection will be addressed. Followed by invited comments, discussion on the state-of-the art of MELODI SRA will follow in three break-out groups; the outcome will be reported the following day. The second day “Emerging scientific challenges” will feature the development of science and novel technologies, covering topics such as epigenetics, systems biology, stem cells and biomarkers that could be potentially used in molecular epidemiological studies. Three breakout sessions will be exploring the roadmap for future research, providing their reports on the final day. The third day “Integrating the research” will provide highlights of Euratom projects dedicated for research on low dose risk.

The attendants are encouraged to submit posters (abstract as well as a PDF of the full poster; paper poster as optional). Electronic posters will be available at the workshop web site.  The electronic posters are seen as an important input to the discussions in the breakout sessions.

The full Workshop program will be duly posted together with the practical arrangements for registration, abstract submission, electronic poster preparation and accommodation. The maximum number of participants is 200. No registration fee is requested.

The MELODI Workshop will be preceded, on September 11, by a joint DoReMi-MELODI Forum on Training and Education.  The focus of this Forum will be an exploration of ways for educational institutions to network in order to share course modules and students for the sake of making better use of European resources and providing more complete coverage of topics. A separate registration is requested. The maximum number of participants is 60.