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Join our RiskGONE workshop in Madrid!

Recent developments in the European regulatory landscape, focusing on the chemical strategy for sustainability and shifting from engineered nanomaterials to advanced materials, bring new challenges and opportunities. Together with NMBP13 projects, RiskGONE addressed these challenges collaboratively.

Join our final RiskGONE workshop in Madrid on 16 June 2023 for a lively discussion on the outcomes of the project! 

 

 

The event will bring together international experts on the topics at the core of RiskGONE’s activities to discuss the results and outcomes of the project.

The workshop will feature presentations and discussion sessions to provide participants with a channel to exchange and acquire information about the latest developments and future trends, creating networks and strengthening collaborations between international experts.

Curious to know more? Register HERE!

Find the programme HERE!

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New training video available! A simple guide on how to determine the effective density of ENMs

New training video available! A simple guide on how to determine the effective density of ENMs

In a training, RiskGONE brings a simple and efficient guidance on how to determine the effective density of engineered nanomaterials – ENMs using volumetric centrifugation method (VCM).

In cellular assays, ENMs can form agglomerates in presence of cell culture media which change the size and the effective density of nanoparticles. This agglomeration can impact the biological effects of ENMs. This is why it is crucial to determine the effective density of ENMs to accurately estimate the delivered dose to cells.

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Final Conference: Future-proof Approaches for Risk Governance – Lessons Learned from Nanomaterials

We are pleased to invite you to join our final conference and discuss the activities of our three EU-funded projects – NANORIGO, RiskGONE and Gov4Nano.

We will explore international approaches to address future challenges in the risk governance of advanced (nano)materials. This includes safe- and sustainable by design (SSbD), harmonisation and standardisation.

The conference takes place online on 31st January 2023 from 11:00 to 15:00 CET. 

Register via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/future-proof-approaches-for-risk-governance-online-tickets-492333872867

Conference approach

We will present and discuss the practical application of our key results and recommendations in the following thematic areas:

  • Harmonisation and standardisation
  • Data management (and FAIR data)
  • Accessibility of tools, instruments and guidance via an online portal
  • Effective organisation of risk governance

Why you must attend this conference

The fundamental premise of our projects is that governance must be inclusive. Thus, we are extending an invitation to all stakeholders that can contribute to this discussion and are involved in ongoing initiatives related to the CSS and/or (risk) governance of advanced materials. This includes representatives from NGOs, industry, research organisations, government agencies, regulators and international organisations, and in particular those involved in:

• (Research) projects in the context of the implementation of the CSS, e.g., projects on SSbD
• Developing harmonisation and standardisation approaches for advanced (nano) materials
• Nanosafety research
• Regulatory risk assessment or method development of new (nano)materials
• Policy development for advanced (nano)materials

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Nanomaterial hazard assessment – Training materials and webinars by PATROLS project

Nanomaterial hazard assessment – Training materials and webinars by PATROLS project

Finished in 2021, PATROLS was an international project combining a team of academics, industrial scientists, government officials and risk assessors to deliver advanced and realistic tools and methods for nanomaterial safety assessment.

PATROLS achieved significant results over its lifetime and left a substantial legacy which can be used by industry, regulators and researchers to help move towards reducing animal usage in testing and in understanding how to test for realistic exposures to nanomaterials.

We have gathered some of the highlights of their work on nanomaterial hazard assessment:

PATROLS SOP Handbook: https://patrols-h2020.eu/publications/sops/index.php

Webinars for training: https://patrols-h2020.eu/publications/media-webinar/index.php

Factsheets (aimed both at scientists & policymakers): https://patrols-h2020.eu/publications/factsheets/index.php

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Conference: Future-proof Approaches for Risk Governance – Lessons Learned from Nanomaterials

Conference: Future-proof Approaches for Risk Governance – Lessons Learned from Nanomaterials

We invite you to register your interest in participating in our conference to help shape international approaches to addressing future challenges in risk governance of nano- & advanced materials. This includes safe- and sustainable by design (SSbD) and harmonisation and standardisation.  The conference will comprise two parts:

  1. In person (by invitation only), at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris on the 24th and 25th January 2023. – Document library: Please find here the agenda and relevant background documents
  2. An online session open to everybody on 31st January 2023.

Register your interest to participate via this link https://NMB13-final-conference.eventbrite.com

The main aim of our conference is to ensure that results from our projects are taken up to:

  • support the implementation of the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS)
  • address future challenges in risk governance of new- and advanced materials

Conference approach

We will use interactive roundtables to present and discuss our key results and recommendations with a broad international audience of relevant stakeholders. The outcomes from these discussions are expected to complement and support the work of other stakeholders and initiatives on risk governance of nano- and advanced materials, including on the following themes:

  • Improved governance practices
  • Harmonisation and standardisation approaches
  • Data management (and FAIR data)
  • Accessibility of tools, instruments and guidance via an online portal
  • Effective organisation of risk governance

Why you must attend this conference

The fundamental premise of our projects is that governance must be inclusive.  Thus, we are extending an invitation to all stakeholders that can contribute to this discussion and are involved in ongoing initiatives related to the CSS and/or (risk) governance of advanced materials. This includes representatives from NGOs, industry, research organisations, EC, EU Member States and experts from the OECD WPMN, and in particular those involved in:

  • (Research) projects in the context of the implementation of the CSS, e.g., projects on SSbD
  • Developing harmonisation and standardisation approaches for advanced (nano) materials
  • Nanosafety research
  • Regulatory risk assessment or method development of new (nano)materials

NB spaces for the in-person event are limited so please register your interest at your earliest convenience.

Organised by the NMBP-13 projects NANORIGO, RiskGONE and Gov4Nano in collaboration with the OECD’s Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN).

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New Training Material video – NanoQSAR methodology

New Training Material video – NanoQSAR methodology

A new RiskGone training material provides guidance on how to develop appropriate scientifically validated Nano-(Q)SAR/(Q)SPR models for the development of safe-by-design nanomaterials as well as regulatory purposes.

Nano-(Q)SAR/(Q)SPR models are an adaptation of (Q)SAR/(Q)SPR methodology for nanomaterials, where the models may be applied for nanoforms of the same substance or nanoforms of different substances. The specificity of nanomaterials requires a special approach in a few aspects: (i) appropriate characterization of nominal nanoforms and in the test conditions, (ii) descriptors especially enabling the distinction of nano forms of the same substances, and (iii) appropriate definition of applicability domain of Nano-(Q)SAR/(Q)SPR models.

 

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RiskGONE at the Nanoweek 2022 – meeting the international nanosafety community!

RiskGONE at the Nanoweek 2022 – meeting the international nanosafety community!

From 20 to 24 June 2022, the international nanosafety community met in Limassol, Cyprus, for the #nanoweek and NanoCommons final conference.

The theme of the conference was Evolution of Nanosafety and materials sustainability as we transition into Horizon Europe”.

Many projects were represented, including RiskGONE, sister projects from the NMBP-13 cluster Nanorigo and Gov4Nano. NanoCommons, NanosolveIT and the NanoSafety cluster were present at the discussions, too.

The conference covered the following topics:

  • Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design of (nano-enabled) products & processes: including Hazard identification, ecotoxicity and toxicity
  • New modelling methodologies and nanoinformatics approaches
  • Data Management – Databases – FAIR data (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability)
  • Risk governance and regulation
  • International communities of research
  • Many opportunities for young nanoscientists (speed datings, trainings, etc.)

There were two sessions dedicated to NMBP-13 projects on risk governance. The first one was a presentation of the Portal and IT infrastructure supporting Risk Governance of nano- and advanced materials and nano-enabled products. The second one was discussing the future of risk governance.

RiskGONE partners also presented the project work in developing test methods for characterization and hazard assessment. On the last day, RiskGONE held its general assembly.

Conference booklet https://www.nanocommons.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Nanoweek-NanoCommons-Final-Conference-Abstract-Book.pdf

 

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New training video – Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR)

New training video – Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR)

In a new training material for RiskGone, a neural network provides an overview of QSAR models and how they can be used. QSAR models define the relationship between the variance in molecular structures and the variance in a modelled biological activity for a group of sufficiently similar compounds. Models can be used to obtain missing data describing the physical chemical properties or activity of compounds. They can predict the modelled activity for untested chemicals without the necessity of providing experiments. The advantages of QSAR methods include a reduction in the cost of products on the market, a reduction of time needed to conduct experiments, a reduction of the need for experimental research using animals, and a reduction in waste caused by experiments.

Watch the presentation to find out more! 

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New training video – Ethics of Nanomedicine – Lecture by Dr Ineke Malsch, RiskGone partner 

On 17 March 2022, Ineke Malsch discussed Ethics of Nanomedicine during the course on ethics of biomedical research organised by the VISION project. Nanomedicine is applied in e.g., mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and enables digital twins, organ on chip and wearables. Introducing nanomaterials in the body raises nanosafety issues. Ethical issues are e.g., related to freedom, equality, data protection and biosecurity. Researchers should contribute to Responsible Research and Innovation, Dr Malsch explained during the session. The principles inclusiveness, anticipation, openness and responsiveness are leading. The preparation of the lecture was supported by the RiskGONE project.

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Nanosafety Training School: Towards Safe and Sustainable by Design Advanced (Nano)Materials

Nanosafety Training School: Towards Safe and Sustainable by Design Advanced (Nano)Materials

The School aims to transfer state-of-the-art knowledge on a variety of topics from key experts to the new generation of professionals working in the areas of safety and sustainability of advanced (nano)materials. To this end, the School will deliver keynote lectures and will engage the participants in interprofessional training by means of roleplay and hands-on training exercises. The programme will balance experimental and modelling approaches in each of the School topics listed below.

The school will take place in the historic centre of Venice, Italy from 15 – 20 May 2022. It is hosted by the company GreenDecision in the frame of the EU Horizon 2020 project SUNSHINE and is co-organised and substantially contributed by the Horizon 2020 projects ASINA, SbD4Nano, SABYDOMA, SAbyNA, DIAGONAL, HARMLESS, NanoInformaTIX, NanoSolveIT, Gov4Nano, NanoRIGO, RiskGONE, NanoCommons, CHARISMA and the US Duke-led INFRAMES initiative.

Join our school to gain more knowledge and multidisciplinary expertise!

Who should attend?

  • PhD Students and Postdocs

  • Senior Researchers

  • Industry Practitioners

  • Regulators

  • Policy Makers

  • Civil Society representatives

  • Anyone else interested in the Safety and Sustainability of Advanced Materials

Topics

  • Transition from Safe-by-Design to Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design of advanced (nano)materials: a historical perspective and current policy landscape

  • What they are: Physicochemical identity – Intrinsic and extrinsic properties affecting release, biodistribution, environmental fate, exposure, human and environmental toxicity

  • What they are: Lifecycle release and transformations

  • Where they go: Environmental fate, human biodistribution and exposure

  • What they do: Human and environmental toxicity

  • Similarity assessment, grouping and read-across approaches

  • Risk assessment and management

  • FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data management and data quality assessment

  • Risk governance

Benefits

  • Gain in-depth interdisciplinary understanding of key topics pertaining to the safety and sustainability of advanced materials

  • Engage in a dialogue with peers and key experts

  • Benefit from a variety of additional networking opportunities such as a boat trip in the Venetian Lagoon and a social dinner

Draft School Agenda

A draft version of the agenda is available HERE.

Registration

To register for the School, please fill in the registration form HERE.

The School attendance is free of charge. The number of attendees to be accepted is limited to 70.

The registration will open 1 March 2022. Registration Deadline: 15 April 2022.

School Location 

The core School programme will take place in the historic Auditorium Santa Margherita Venice, Italy.

Contacts

Scientific enquiries:

Danail Hristozov, GreenDecision (IT) | danail.hristozov@greendecision.eu

Organisation, logistics, local support and administration:

Stefania Melandri, Warrant Hub (IT) | stefania.melandri@warranthub.it

Paola Basso, GreenDecision (IT) | management@greendecision.eu

Stella Stoycheva, Yordas Group (DE) | s.stoycheva@yordasgroup.com

Cathrin Cailliau, Yordas Group (DE) | c.cailliau@yordasgroup.com

School Certificates

Each participant will receive a Certificate of Attendance upon successful completion of the School.


School Committees

Scientific Committee

  • Danail Hristozov, GreenDecision (Venice, IT) & Emerge (Sofia, BG)

  • Lang Tran, Institute of Occupational Medicine (Edinburgh, UK)

  • Antonio Marcomini, University Ca’Foscari (Venice, IT)

  • Miguel A. Bañares,  Spanish National Research Council (Madrid, ES)

  • Anna Costa, Italian National Research Council (Rome, IT)

  • Tobias Stöger, Helmholtz Zentrum (München, DE)

  • Otmar Schmid, Helmholtz Zentrum (München, DE)

  • Martin Himly, University of Salzburg (Salzburg, AT)

  • Carlos Fito, Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje Transporte y Logística (Valencia, ES)

  • Andrew Nelson, University of Leeds (Leeds, UK)

  • Elisa Moschini, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (Luxembourg, LU)

  • Socorro Vázquez-Campos, Leitat Technological Center (Barcelona, ES)

  • Mark Wiesner, CEINT, Duke University (Durham, US)

Organising Committee

  • Stefania Melandri, Warrant Group S.p.A. (Casalecchio di Reno, IT)

  • Stella Stoycheva, Yordas Group (Forchheim, DE)

  • Susanne Resch, BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft (Graz, AT)

  • Paola Basso, GreenDecision (Venice, IT)

  • Lisa Pizzol, GreenDecision (Venice, IT)

  • Cathrin Cailliau, Yordas Group (Forchheim, DE)

  • Hildegard Luhmann, European Research Services GmbH (Münster, DE)

  • Elisa Giubilato, GreenDecision (Venice, IT)


Organising projects

ASINA logo.pngCHARISMA+Logo.pngDIAGONAL LOGO.pngHARMLESS_Logo.pngNanoInformaTIX logo.pngSabydoma_Logo.pngLogo-Sabyna-S-blanca.pngSbD4nano Logo.png

Sponsors

  • GreenDecision (Venice, IT)

  • Yordas Group (Forchheim, DE)

  • Warrant Hub S.p.A. (Casalecchio di Reno, IT)

  • BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (Graz, AT)

  • Emerge (Sofia, BG)

Contributing Projects

These projects have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 952924 (SUNSHINE), No 862444 (ASINA), No 952921 (CHARISMA), No 953152 (DIAGONAL), No 953183 (HARMLESS), No 814426 (NanoInformaTIX), No 862296 (SABYDOMA), No 862419 (SAbyNA), No 862195 (SbD4Nano), No 814401 (Gov4Nano), No 731032 (NanoCommons), No 814530 (NANORIGO), No 814572 (NanoSolveIT), No 814425 (RISKGONE).