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Webinar on nanotechnology risk-assessment method AOP – register now!

Webinar on nanotechnology risk-assessment method AOP – register now!

Nanotechnologies have useful applications, but do present risks, such as toxicity or flammability under some conditions. The RiskGONE project is researching on how to assess hazards using Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), a risk-assessment method used to analyse how biological events may lead to adverse effects.

Using AOPs is common for assessing hazards posed by chemicals, but not yet for nanomaterials. Therefore, RiskGONE researchers work to adapt this kind of methods to be used in testing risks in new nano-based technologies.

Are you a nanomaterial student, or an engineer? Just interested in these developments? RiskGONE experts are holding a webinar on 5 June at 12.30pm (Brussels Time). They will go in detail on how to use AOPs to assess risks in new nanotechnology applications.

On the programme:

  • Introduction of the AOP together with brief description of OECD-sponsored AOP Knowledge base (AOP-KB), by Dr. Ivana Vinković Vrček, Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb (Croatia).
  • Overview of a systematic literature search summarizing existing AOPs for nanomaterials, as performed in riskGONE project and examples on how to generate a testable hypothesis for AO of nanomaterials from chemical AOPs, by Prof. Peter Hoet and Mr. Sivakumar Murugadoss, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven (Belgium).
  • Introduction and discussion over the concept of quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), by Dr. Karolina Jagiello, QSAR lab, Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Open discussion

Registrations are open to everyone! To attend, just fill in this form.

 

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Webinar recording – your chance to catch up anytime!

Webinar recording – your chance to catch up anytime!

Our first webinar brought together the expertise of leading RiskGONE project partners in order to explain how we go about our mission to improve risk governance of engineered nanomaterials and how interested stakeholders can get involved.

We have recorded the webinar for you so that you can get back to it anytime. Simply click on the links below to watch the webinar sections of your interest!

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One year into our work – face to face meeting in Iceland

One year into our work – face to face meeting in Iceland

The 3rd RiskGONE project meeting took place in Reykjavik, Iceland on 6-7 February. The face to face meeting with representatives of all consortium partners marked one year of activity since the project kicked off in January 2019.

Looking back at the project’s first year, partners came together to advance in their efforts to provide solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials. The meeting was organised together with two other H2020 projects: the infrastructure project NanoCOMMONS and NMBP14 project NanoSolveIT.

RiskGONE partners shared updates on their risk governance research and their approach to risk-benefit analysis which will shape the design of the Risk Governance Council to be established. In addition the current state of tools for nanomaterials risk assessment were presented. The tools are being developed based on characterisation of ENMs and human and eco-toxicological hazard assessment in order to identify with better certainty the environmental and human health impacts of a number of nanomaterials. The results of tests using these tools will then be integrated into the work of the European Risk Governance Council.

The meeting hosted the second edition of a joint workshop on Data Management, Adverse Outcome Pathways and Dissemination organised by RiskGONE together with NanoCOMMONS and NanoSolveIT.

Getting together all partners and work package leaders also served to discuss the harmonisation of ongoing activities with H2020 projects NANORIGO and Gov4Nano, together with which RiskGONE is working to build a robust, long-term Risk Governance Framework and Council to guide the safe and transparent governance of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs).

Would you like to find out more about where the RiskGONE project stands and hear updates from project partners directly? Listen in to our webinar on 19 March – you can register here.

Are you searching for answers or would like to find out more about our activities? Our public forum is open for all of you and enables you to ask questions and engage with other interested stakeholders.

Stay up to date on our activities, have a regular looks at our news and follow us on LinkedIn.

 

About the Project
RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project aiming at providing solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials, based on a clear understanding of risks and risk management practices.

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Reading recommendation: Nanoregulation along the product life cycle

Reading recommendation: Nanoregulation along the product life cycle

Are you interested in staying up to date regarding scientific publications relevant to the field of nanomaterials and our work for better risk governance? We are happy to share an article of interest with you! Take a look at “Nanoregulation along the product life cycle in the EU, Switzerland, Thailand, the USA, and intergovernmental organisations, and its compatibility with WTO law” published in Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry.

The main finding of the article is that regulating nanosafety and labelling of nanoproducts is most probably compatible with World Trade Organisation law.

The RiskGONE partners will share interesting publications with you on a regular basis. Visit our resource area and take a look at our website updates and LinkedIn channel to stay up to date.

About the Project

RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project aiming at providing solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials, based on a clear understanding of risks and risk management practices.

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RiskGONE coordinator hosts training for project partners on different assays

RiskGONE coordinator hosts training for project partners on different assays

The Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), coordinator of RiskGONE, hosted a training workshop at its premises in Kjeller, Norway, from 17-20 February. Project partners were trained on different assays for use with engineered nanomaterials which will be part of the Round Robin exercise and testing later in the project.

The training was targeted at those project partners who will work to deliver more efficient and reliable human hazard and environmental risk assessment safety testing strategies in order to improve risk decision making tools for nanomaterials.

Analysis of results from Comet Assay

The training week focused on the Comet Assay (CA), Colony Forming Efficiency (CFE) and Alamar Blue (AB) assay. The CA is a genotoxicity test, CFE and AB are cytotoxicity tests. Besides the transfer of knowledge, the aim of the training week was the harmonization of the procedures among the different laboratories.

The partners participating to the training were Swansea University, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Bergen. Alongside the training activities, this week has been an occasion for the partners to discuss and plan future activities.

This training workshop is the first in a series of trainings to be organised as part of RiskGONE. The training material which was developed will be shared among all project partners and might also form the basis of teaching and training material to be used beyond the project course.

About the Project

RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project aiming at providing solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials, based on a clear understanding of risks and risk management practices.

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RiskGONE, Gov4Nano & NANORIGO actively involved in International Particle Toxicology Conference

RiskGONE together with NANORIGO and Gov4Nano participated in the 12th International Particle Toxicology Conference, which took place on 11-13 September in Salzburg, Austria, bringing together 135 stakeholders from across the world.

Focusing on the challenges of translating knowledge from particle safety research into regulation and legislation, the conference was of particular interest to the three EU H2020 projects working together to effectively improve risk governance of nanomaterials.

During the conference’s poster session both the close collaboration of RiskGONE with Gov4Nano and NANORIGO as well as specific details of the RiskGONE project were presented.

The International Particle Toxicology Conference also gave place to the 1st International Young Scientist Forum. The event allowed young scientists working in all fields in the broader area of particle and fibre toxicology to come together, discuss state-of-the-art developments, broaden their scientific knowledge & advance their research. DECHEMA, partner of the RiskGONE consortium, was involved in the organisation and part of the scientific committee.

A general trend transpiring from the discussions was that interesting research in the field of expositions of humans to particles are being conducted in real-life settings such as airports, trains and harbours. In addition, it was found that research on security of engineered particles is slightly decreasing – a development which attests to the importance of improved risk governance of nanomaterials and therefore the relevance of the main objective of the three NMBP-13 projects RiskGONE, Gov4Nano and NANORIGO.
The next edition of the conference is foreseen to take place at the University of New Mexico in 2022.

About the Project

RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project aiming at providing solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials, based on a clear understanding of risks and risk management practices.

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RiskGONE Partners to attend 12th International Particle Toxicology Conference

The 12th International Particle Toxicology Conference will take place 11th – 13th September 2019 in Salzburg Austria. The meeting will focus on the challenges of translating knowledge from particle safety research into regulation and legislation and will therefore be of particular interest to RiskGONE project partners.  In addition, NANORIGO and Gov4Nano partners have also confirmed their participation, offering the opportunity for informal meetings and more intensive cooperation between the three projects.

The conference is preceded by an International Young Scientist Forum, 9th – 10th September. Information and abstract submission on both events can be found on the website iptc2019.eu.

The deadline for last minute poster submission is 31 July 2019. You can submit your abstract here.

The IPTC series of conferences brings together experts on particle toxicology from around the world and considers all types of particles. The conference covers general research issues, but has a strong focus on applications of particle toxicology in work place safety, environmental safety, consumer safety, medical and diagnostic developments and other fields.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:

  • Matthew Campen, U New Mexico, USA
  • Mary Gulumian, U Witwatersrand, South Africa
  • Jonathan Powell, U Cambridge, UK
  • Ng Kee Woei, Nanyang Technical U, Singapore
  • Andrea de Vizcaya-Ruiz, Polytechnique Inst, Mexico
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Taking stock & moving forward – RiskGONE successfully completed Month 6 Meeting

On 4th and 5th July 2019, the RiskGONE partners gathered in Limassol, Cyprus in order to hold their second face-to-face project meeting. Taking place following the first 6 months of the project, the event was a crucial moment which allowed the RiskGONE consortium to take stock of progress achieved and lessons learned so far for each work package, and to align on upcoming activities.

Advancements in the development of a risk governance framework for the safety of nanomaterials were presented, and the nature as well as structure of the Risk Governance Council (RGC) – which will be established over the course of the project – were also discussed.

One major subject of interest was the collaboration with NANORIGO and Gov4Nano, two other EU H2020 projects within the NMBP-13 project cluster tasked to develop tools and a framework to govern the risks associated with the use of nanomaterials. The three projects will work together closely towards the establishment of one single Risk Governance Council, thereby allowing for synergies, efficient use of resources, and more impactful results over the course of the project and beyond!

Major updates from the meeting included the completion of the RiskGone Project website including Public Forum and Members Area for experts in the field, as well as the results of the questionnaire filled out by the RiskGONE External Advisory Board about the needs of the RGC, an analysis of the possible tools to be developed for the RGC, and the selection of the nanomaterials to be used in the experimental work of the project.

The project meeting was organised by RiskGONE partner NovaMechanics, who did a great job as our local host in Cyprus. The meeting was also combined with meetings of other ongoing EU H2020 projects NanoCommons and NanoSolveIT working on the nanosafety knowledge infrastructure and nanoinformatics respectively. Joint sessions on Datasets & Modelling and risk assessment of nanomaterials allowed for further valuable exchange among experts of the three projects.

The RiskGONE partners will build on the momentum created by the fruitful discussions to continue to develop the framework for analysing risk and safety testing strategies, as well as the governance and structure of the Risk Governance Council in partnership with NANORIGO an Gov4Nano as mentioned. Many RiskGONE partners plan to attend the upcoming EU NanoSafety Cluster Week 2019 this October in Copenhagen, and will officially convene again for the next consortium meeting in February! In the meantime, stay tuned for more updates by following our LinkedIn page and subscribing to our newsletter via our website www.riskgone.eu

About the Project

RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project aiming at providing solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials, based on a clear understanding of risks and risk management practices.

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RiskGONE kick-off meeting in Oslo

Back on 13-14 February 2019, the RiskGONE consortium partners came together in Oslo for the RiskGONE Kick off Meeting & International Workshop on Risk Governance of Nanotechnology.

The meeting was the first physical get-together of all the project partners who will collaborate for a period of 4 years with the aim to establish solid risk governance procedures for engineered nanomaterials. It was an occasion for team leaders to meet in person and to together discuss the management of the different work packages. In addition, the International Workshop on Risk Governance of Nanotechnology Open Session gave floor to international experts on nanomaterials who shared their views with the project consortium.

Since the successful kick-off meeting, the project has progressed well, and the official M6 (month 6) meeting is fast-approaching during which all work packages will present their progress, and discuss what can be expected over the final half of 2019.

Next to RiskGONE, the projects NANORIGO and Gov4Nano were also presented – the three projects are part of an EU H2020 collective (NMBP-13) addressing safety governance of nanomaterials, and as part of the project deliverables all three projects will work together to establish the European Risk Governance Council (ERGC).

RiskGONE is an EU H2020 project, aiming at providing solid procedures for science-based risk governance of nanomaterials, based on a clear understanding of risks and risk management practices.
More information and updates on the project will be available on the RiskGONE website, through our newsletters as well as via the official RiskGONE LinkedIn page found here.