Objectives

EURAMED rocc-n-roll will analyse research and radiation protection needs in the clinical disciplines using ionising radiation with the aim to generate the largest benefit for the European population in an equal, safe, high-quality way throughout Europe by fostering clinical translation while also strengthening economic growth and industrial competitiveness supported by medical radiation protection research and innovation. Moreover, education and training schemes for health workforce and scientists will be developed to increase Europe’s research capacity in the field.

To achieve this, EURAMED rocc-n-roll has defined the following specific objectives:

1. To integrate the different fields of research for which medical application of ionising radiation is relevant to identify the related currently unanswered research questions and options ensuring transfer of the research results into the clinic. Thus, EURAMED rocc-n-roll aims to generate an understanding between the representatives from the health sector and from the radiation science sector. With this approach, EURAMED rocc-n-roll will foster cooperation in the field between different sectors allowing innovation and groundbreaking achievements in the future. (WPs 3, 4, 6)
2. To integrate the interests of the different stakeholders including academic researchers, health professionals, industry, funding organisations, regulators and certainly the European Commission. EURAMED rocc-n-roll aims to find a balance between the different interests and allow the best possible approach to future research fostering medical applications of ionising radiation and the corresponding radiation protection for the benefit of Europe’s patients, health professionals, but also the European industry and finally the European population at large due to efficient use of resources. (WPs 4, 5, 6, 7)
3. To contribute to equal access to medical applications using ionising radiation for diagnosis and treatment throughout Europe, by ensuring a geographical balance when defining the strategic research topics and addressing them. (WPs 4, 5, 6, 7)
4. To evaluate and provide recommendations how to design research in medical applications of ionizing radiation and related radiation protection to ensure a sustainable supply with methods and products (devices, consumables) for medical use of ionising radiation for high-quality and safe healthcare. (WP2, 3)
5. To integrate the digitisation research community in addition to the health community and the radiation science community, acknowledging the digital revolution in healthcare and evaluating its benefits for Europe’s patients, but also caveats and challenges when it comes to the use of ionising radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications. (WP4)
6. To improve the benefit/risk balance in the use of ionising radiation in medicine for patient diagnosis and treatment by evaluating how all the aspects of medical use of ionising radiation can be integrated into one research programme. (WPs 2, 3, 6)
7. To design and pilot a dedicated education and training framework for health professionals and researchers to equip Europe to achieve the integration aspects and common approaches and to carry out the research following the EURAMED rocc-n-roll SRA and roadmap and help the different communities understand each other, allow relevant clinical studies to be performed, and foster the transfer of research results and innovation into products and clinical practice. (WP7)
8. To focus specific objectives 1-7 on patient benefit and patient-centredness. (WPs 2-7)

Context and Impact

The dynamic environment of medical applications of ionising radiation calls for the development of a co-ordinated and systematic European approach to research and innovation in medical applications of ionising radiation, with the aim to improve patient care and quality of life of the EU citizens, support growth and jobs in the EU and to improve the EU’s position on the global market, focussing on an integrative, multi-stakeholder approach and building upon existing initiatives and projects.

Horizon Europe, the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, will in its 2nd pillar on Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness take forward the societal challenges and industrial technologies addressing EU and global policy and competitiveness challenges and opportunities within five clusters, including one on “health” and one on “digital and industry”. It will strengthen the importance of other Union programmes to foster innovation and maximise impact. The Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025 emphasises the importance of creating synergies with other Horizon Europe programmes, in particular in the health sector. Therefore, there is a clear need for an SRA in medical radiation protection research to understand and create synergies between the Horizon 2020 health and digital programmes as well as the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025.

EURAMED, with its commitment to better use of ionising radiation in medicine including safety aspects as radiation protection, the individual institutions driving that platform have connections and insights into all aspects of medical applications of ionising radiation. It is the only logical approach to reach out to the health sector and representatives addressing main topics of disease related research fields, where radiation can be beneficial for the patients.

The vision of the EURAMED rocc-n-roll project therefore is to integrate various aspects of research related to medical applications of ionising radiation and the corresponding radiation protection research into a common framework. To make this framework meaningful in terms of future research recommendations and funding scenarios, it is of utmost importance that this framework is derived in a process based on consensus among as many stakeholders in the field as possible. The SRA will integrate the health, the industrial and digital perspectives for medical applications of ionising radiation and the radiation protection approaches, into one common SRA. The work of EURAMED rocc-n-roll will serve as decision support for stakeholders and decision makers at EU and member state levels for priorities and needs in this important, interdisciplinary field.