Report of the ECNIS 4th Annual Meeting
The Royal Academy Palace, Brussels (16 March 2009) & The Faculty Club, Leuven (17-18 March 2009)
The ECNIS Fourth Annual Meeting was held on 16-18 March 2009, attended by approximately 130 persons, including members of the network regular and associated partners as well as the stakeholder workshop attendees. The first part of the Meeting was held on 16 March, at the Royal Academy Palace, Brussels, and was open to the public. During the morning a half-day stakeholders' workshop on "Food and environmental cancer risks for adults and children" was held, jointly organized by ECNIS and the NewGeneris Integrated Project. This was followed on the afternoon of the same day, and at the same location, by the first part of the Annual General Meeting of the ECNIS consortium, during which the WP leaders presented an update of progress achieved during the preceding year as well as their plans for the following year. On the following 2 days the Meeting moved to the Faculty Club, Leuven, where a total of 7 workshops and a session dedicated to presentations by Ph.D. students were held.
The full report with pictures is also available as pdf file click here
A. Stakeholders' workshop on "Food and environmental cancer risks for adults and children"
The purpose of this workshop was to present, for the benefit of stakeholders, especially policy makers, a synopsis of the current scientific knowledge and trends in the area of food and environmental cancer risks and to facilitate a dialogue between research scientists and potential users of the outcome of their research. It was organised jointly by ECNIS and NewGeneris ("Newborns and Genotoxic Exposure Risks", an Integrated Project which utilises advanced biomarker-based technology to study the importance of the exposure of pregnant mothers to certain food-born toxic chemicals in the aetiology of cancer and immune disease in their children. This joint initiative of two projects with complementary aims highlights the opportunities provided by the integrating effects of European research networks to bring together the best scientific expertise in the area of environmental cancer as to provide up-to-date information to potential users. The Workshop was also implemented in co-operation with DG Sanco which oversees risk assessment procedures in the European Commission, underlying the efforts of the Workshop organisers to address in particular stakeholders and scientists involved in risk assessment and regulation.
The Workshop was attended by 130 persons, including among others, the World Health Organisation, the International Life Sciences Institute, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Health and Environment Alliance and various European Commission departments, as well as members of the ECNIS network.
Following a brief introduction to the Workshop by Dr. M. Botsivali, Dissemination Officer for ECNIS and NewGeneris, prof. K. Rydzynski (co-ordinator of ECNIS) and Dr. S.A. Kyrtopoulos (speaking on behalf of prof. J. Kleinjans, coordinator of NewGeneris), gave summary overviews of the work of the two networks in the area of cancer risk assessment, emphasising in particular the utility of biomarkers as tools for improving the accuracy of risk assessment for environmental and food-borne carcinogenic chemicals. Subsequently the importance of risk assessment in the European Commission's regulatory activities and the procedures followed in this area were presented by Dr. P. Daskaleros, head of the Sector on Assessment of Health and Environmental Risks and Health Technology Assessment, EU DG Sanco.
One of the Workshop's highlights was the presentation given by the newly appointed Director of IARC, Professor Christopher Wild. Speaking on "Nutrition, environment and cancer: global burden and research priorities", prof. Wild stressed the difficulties which the current limitations of risk assessment methodologies face, especially in connection with the large uncertainties which often surround environmental exposure assessment and expressed his conviction that well validated biomarkers can facilitate significant progress in this area.
The current state of science with regard to assessment of cancer risks from food and environmental chemicals were reviewed by three ECNIS and NewGeneris scientists, prof. P. Vineis who reviewed the current evidence on the influence of the environment on cancer risk and the utility of biomarkers in further elucidating this problem, Dr. J. Alexander who spoke about the contribution of biomarkers to the risk assessment of acrylamide and prof. M. Kirsch-Volders who spoke about the development and implementation of biomarkers for early genetic effects in children.
The ensuing discussion focussed primarily on the prospects of the use of biomarkers in risk assessment and the need for expansion of biomarkers studies in human populations in Europe through the development of a population biomonitoring strategy. In particular, the need for improved interaction and information flow between European researchers, especially those involved in EU-funded projects, and European regulators was stressed.
The Workshop's detailed Programme is shown below:
PROGRAMME
Chair: M. Botsivali, NHRF, Athens (ECNIS and NewGeneris Dissemination Officer)
1. Κ. Rydzynski, NOFER Institute, Lodz: Contribution of ECNIS to improved risk assessment of environmental and food carcinogens (click here for the presentation)
2. S. Kyrtopoulos, NHRF, Athens: Contribution of NewGeneris to the understanding of the role of food-borne chemicals in cancer and immune diseases in children (click here for the presentation)
3. P. Daskaleros, Head, Sector on Assessment of Health and Environmental Risks and Health Technology Assessment, EU DG-Sanco, Brussels: Risk assessment policy and the European Commission's Scientific Committees (click here for the presentation)
4. C. Wild, Director of International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon: Nutrition, environment and cancer: global burden and research priorities (click here for the presentation)
5. P. Vineis, Imperial College, London: Current evidence on the influence of the environment on cancer risk and the utility of biomarkers in further elucidating this problem (click here for the presentation)
6. J. Alexander, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo: Contribution of biomarkers to the risk assessment of acrylamide (click here for the presentation)
7. M. Kirsch-Volders, Free University, Brussels: From development to implementation of biomarkers for early genetic effects in children (click here for the ee presentation)
B. ECNIS 4th Annual General Meeting
- Part 1: Workpackage progress and plans
All Workpackages presented their progress and results as well as their plans for the fifth and final year of the project, followed by open discussion. The WPs presentations were the following:
WP1: Integration of available resources and setting up of quality standards (P.B. Farmer)
WP2: Integrated organization and management of knowledge and information flow (R. Rydzynski)
WP3: Joint training and mobility program (V. McCormack)
WP4 & WP8: Construction of a knowledge data base on molecular epidemiology and cancer (P. Vineis)
WP5: Science Monitoring and Review (S.A. Kyrtopoulos)
WP6: Development and validation of biomarkers of exposure and of bioindicators of disease for use in epidemiology (P.B. Farmer)
WP7: Development and validation of biomarkers of individual susceptibility (A. Hirvonen)
WP8: Implementation of biomarker technology for cancer prevention (P. Vineis)
WP9: Mechanisms of modulation of cancer by dietary factors (B. Åkesson)
WP10: Mechanistic research to improve the basis for cancer hazard and risk assessment (F. Oesch)
WP11: Integrated risk assessment (H. Kromhout)
WP12: Socio-ethical impact of biomarker research (L. Casteleyn)
WP13: Dissemination of knowledge to the scientific community (V. McCormack)
WP14: Dissemination of acquired knowledge to stakeholders (M. Botsivali)
WP15: Management activities (K. Rydzynski)
In addition, presentations were made by the Chairpersons of the Ethical Review Panel (prof. Ulf Gorman) and the Gender Issues Panel (prof. Inger Lövkrona).
Users with access to the internal website may see the presentations by logging in.
- Part 2: Workshops and other activities
On 17-18 March, the second part of the Meeting was held in Leuven, consisting of a number of Workshops organised by different Workpackages and held as parallel sessions. In addition, a poster session (click here for the abstracts) was held in association with a session where Ph.D. students had the opportunity to give oral presentations of their work. In addition to the scientific workshops, outlined below, a Workshop on Ethics, organised by WP12 (Ethics) and a Workshop on "Academic leadership and gender", organised by the ECNIS Taskforce on Gender Issues, were also held.
The scientific Workshops covered important developments in the areas of biomarkers (e.g. the emerging role of epigenetics), gender-related susceptibility, considerations in planning and implementation of large-scale molecular epidemiology studies and mechanism-based risk assessment. In addition, a workshop organised by WP6 gave the opportunity to holders of ECNIS type B projects to present their results.
In addition to the Workshops, the Annual Network Governing Council was held. A large part of the discussion during this meeting was devoted to the prospects of the continued existence of the ECNIS network beyond the end of the current contract. A general consensus clearly emerged about the success of ECNIS in creating a strong network which brings together most of European research groups active in the area of environmental cancer and in promoting activities of strategic importance in the area. For these reasons the desire for a continuation of the operation of the network was very clearly stated, and various options to be explored during the coming months were put forward.
The full programme of the second part of the Meeting is shown below.
WP1 Workshop: Prioritizing, planning and implementing large-scale human studies
Introduction: P.B. Farmer, University of Leicester
European scale biomonitoring: Building the elephant, Ovnair Sepai, Health Protection Agency, Chilton, UK
Population-based biobanking: size, quality and harmony all matter! Paul Burton, University of Leicester
Comparing and pooling studies on biomarkers and dietary constituents, Emanuela Taioli, SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, New York
Potentials of expression analysis (transcriptomics) in prospective cancer studies - the NOWAC postgenome cohort, Eiliv Lund, University of Tromsø
Prospective studies in developing countries: what can we learn? Paolo Boffetta, IARC
Round Table Discussion
WP9, 10 & 11 Workshop: Environmental Carcinogenesis: Mechanistic Progress Allowing Improved Risk Assessment and Prevention by Nutrition Modification
Introduction, Carsten Weiss
Green tea and breast cancer, Gail Sonenshein, Boston, USA
The formation of acrylamide in foods, Leif H. Skibsted, Copenhagen, Denmark
Acrylamide and glycidamide related biomarkers of toxification, detoxification and genotoxicity, Gerhard Eisenbrand, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Exposure to acrylamide and glycidamide in the general population, Hubert Vesper, Atlanta, USA
Plenary Discussion, Björn Akesson, Hans Kromhout, Franz Oesch
WP5 & 6 Workshop: Epigenetics biomarkers in cancer molecular epidemiology
Introduction: P.B. Farmer, University of Leicester
DNA methylation changes in cancer as biomarkers of exposure and tumorigenesis. Zdenko Herceg, IARC
Imprinted genes maintain stable DNA methylation in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficient mice. Martina Paulsen, Saarland University
Epigenetic biomarkers of bowel cancer risk. John Mathers, University of Newcastle
The cancer methylome, using next generation sequencing to identify epigenetic biomarkers in cancer. Andrew Feber, UCL Cancer Institute, London
Epigenetic therapies in hematological malignancies: the search for true targets. Saverio Minucci, University of Milan
Discussion
Gender related susceptibility to mutagens/carcinogens
Gender-related differences and individual susceptibility in animal experiments and human studies. Lennart Möller, Karolinska Institutet Sweden
Gender difference in cancer prediction by biomarkers of chromosome damage. Stefano Bonassi, NCRI Italy
Contribution of genotypes to gender-related differences in response to mutagens/carcinogens. Ari Hirvonen, FIOH, Finland
Is the risk of lung cancer from smoking greater for women than for men? David Philips, ICR UK
Quantitative Analysis of DNA Methylation Profiles in Lung Cancer Identifies Aberrant DNA Methylation of Specific Genes and Its Association with Gender and Cancer Risk Factors. Zdenko Herceg, IARC France
WP6 Workshop: Outcome of type B projects
Introduction: WP6 progress. P.B. Farmer, University of Leicester
Selenium in milk - selenium speciation and health effects. Björn Åkesson, Tien Hoac, Katharina Bruzelius, Gitte Ravn-Haren, Peter Olsson, Vasileios Pagmantidis, Jan Stagsted, Susanne Bügel, Jacob H. Nielsen, Lars O. Dragsted and Gunilla Önning, Lund University
Validation of N2-ethylidenedeoxyguanosine as a biomarker of alcohol intake, Dan Segerbäck, Karolinska Institutet
Use of lymphoblastoid cell lines for the identification of functional DNA repair polymorphisms: conclusions and perspectives, Giuseppe Matullo, ISI, Turin
Towards consensus for the measurement of urinary 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'deoxyguanosine: the European Standards Committee on Urinary DNA Lesion Analysis (ESCULA), Marcus Cooke, University of Leicester
Assessment of general population exposure to PAHs in Northern Iran, a high risk area for esophageal cancer, Farhad Islami, IARC, Lyon
Assessment and reduction of comet assay variation (ECVAG): status and future inter-laboratory studies, Peter Møller, University of Copenhagen
Molecular dissection and potential cross-talk of the biological and genetic pathways affected by benzo[ a]pyrene (BaP) and dioxin (TCDD), Franz Oesch, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Discussion
Ethical Workshop
How to take care of ethical issues in human studies, Ulf Görman
Key bottlenecks as encountered/reported in ECNIS and similar projects. Ludwine Casteleyn
Open discussion
Academic leadership and gender
Presentation of Leadership program for senior scientists and postdocs within ECNIS. Inger Lövkrona
Discussion
PhD Students session
Oral presentations by Mari Kukkonen, Andrea John, Genevieve Buckland and Jelle Vlaanderen
click here for the posters
Report prepared by Maria Botsivali
ECNIS Science Communication Officer
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