20 YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN 20 YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN HEALTH/WORK/ENVIRONMENTHEALTH/WORK/ENVIRONMENT

Balance and perspective ... dialogue between the stakeholders.Balance and perspective ... dialogue between the stakeholders. September 6, 2012 September 6, 2012

Perspectives and recommendationsPerspectives and recommendationsfor future research for future research

in health/work/environmentin health/work/environment

Prof. D. LisonLouvain Centre for Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology

Université catholique de Louvain

Prof. M. Kirsch-VoldersLaboratorium voor Cellulaire Genetica

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Perspectives and recommendations for Perspectives and recommendations for future research in future research in

health/work/environmenthealth/work/environment

Prof. M. Kirsch-Volders

Laboratorium voor Cellulaire Genetica Vrije Universiteit Brussel

1. New impulse for fundamental research

2. Long-term strategy for :

- structural investments- human investments

3. Encouraging interdisciplinary approaches

4. Federal structure for industrial toxicology, ensuring European integration at the highest level

Future perspectives after 10 years of research in health/work/environment

(2001 report)

Future perspectives in the current report after 20 years of research

in health/work/environment (2012)

PRINCIPLE

Research in health/work/environment:

a scientific strategy

meeting and anticipating the needs of the society

prevention based on knowledge of mechanisms of diseases and

new biomarkers

Research in health/work/environment should be:

Fundamental, applied but also translational

Integrating the complexity of risk sources and risk factors

Multidisciplinary: not only biologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists,… but also experts from other disciplines such as physicists, engineers, geologists, ethicists, ….

Breaking down paradigms, especially for new materials and/or environments

Research in health/work/environment should be:

Reaching long term strategy, allowing the continuity of the expertise:

- Capacity and knowledge building : larger projects with workshops, seminars

- Collaboration with other federal scientific institutions

- Collaboration with European projects, including foreign research teams

- Innovative projects for senior researchers

- Importance of follow-up committees

- Implementation of a federal platform

Funding of research in health/work/environment:

Partners of Follow-up committees

Co-funding with other federal scientific institutions

EU projects

FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION IS ESSENTIAL !

Perspectives and recommendations for Perspectives and recommendations for future research in future research in

health/work/environmenthealth/work/environment

Prof. D. Lison

Louvain Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

Université catholique de Louvain

FEDERAL STRUCTURE for EH RESEARCH ?

2001 : virtual institute for industrial hygiene & toxicology

2012 : federal structure for E&H research= a durable research community dedicated to E&H

WHY do we need this ?

•aim of BELSPO programs :• a permanent expertise capacity • to maintain the excellence of scientific potential

•sustainable development : also for research•EH research = long-term dimension •from teams networks•visibility (national, international)•attractability for young scientists•clarification/simplification of the landscape

HasseltFUNDP

Public health

PHI

VITO

COCOFSocial affairs

VGC

Well-being, health, GK

DG HealthCF

Social action,

Health RW

IBGE

NEHAPCIMES

Provincial institutes

Taskforce, CPES

E&H

KULeuvenULB

ULgVUB

UCLouvain

BELSPO

FWO, IWT

DGRNE

UIA

UGhent

…

INNOVIRISFNRS, FRSM, FRIA

Health council

HasseltFUNDP

Public health

PHI

VITO

COCOFSocial affairs

VGC

Well-being, health, GK

DG HealthCF

Social action,

Health RW

IBGE

NEHAPCIMES

Provincial institutes

Taskforce, CPES

E&H

KULeuvenULB

ULgVUB

UCLouvain

BELSPO

FWO, IWT

DGRNE

UIA

UGhent

…

INNOVIRISFNRS, FRSM, FRIA

Health council

Nanomaterials

CODA-CERVA

RIVM has a total of approximately 1,500 staff.

main commissioning :• The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport • The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment • The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation • Various government inspectorates •The European Union • The United Nations

see @ http://www.rivm.nl/en 

2001 : virtual institute for industrial hygiene & toxicology

2012 : federal structure for E&H research= a stable research community dedicated to E&H

WHAT do we need ?

•The Belgian way :‒ research expertise in universities, institutes‒ internationally competitive‒ cost effective (cf. Gevers & Rogiers)

Consolidate and reinforce the existing expertise

positive negative

internal

Strengths

• vitality, dynamism• productivity• cost effectiveness• geographical

concentration

Weaknesses

• insufficient continuity

• Redundancyoverlapping

external

Opportunities

• EU framework• societal demand

(public, industry)

Threats

• budgetary context

• complexity of landscape

2001 : virtual institute for industrial hygiene & toxicology

2012 : federal structure for E&H research= a stable research community dedicated to E&H

How to proceed ?

•inventory of expertise/excellence in E&H•earmark expertise/excellence in E&H•focus on synergy, multidisciplinarity•balancing stability vs turn-over•open to external collaborations•thematic seminars•specific funding scheme

‒ PhD, post-doc grants‒ multidisciplinary, translational projects‒ EH IAPs ?

•coupling research and expertise translational : industry, regulators

Thank you for your attention

We welcome your questions, comments or suggestions

On behalf of all involved researchers we thank BELSPO for the past, present and

forthcoming scientific, financial and structural support