The 3-year EURAMED rocc-n-roll project will produce a strategic research agenda (SRA) in the field of medical applications of ionising radiation and related radiation protection based on wide stakeholder input and consultation, a corresponding roadmap, and an interlink document, integrating the views and identifying synergies from the areas of radiation protection, health research and digitization with impactful guidance to the EC and stakeholders on future research.
A fully integrated and coordinated European approach based on stakeholder consensus and existing activities in the field will be ensured. The EURAMED rocc-n-roll consortium brings together relevant disciplines including radiation biology, dosimetry for medical applications, ethics, and clinical expertise, complemented by regulatory and health policy, AI, and industry experts.
Acronym: |
EURAMED rocc-n-roll |
Start date: |
September 1st, 2020 |
Duration: |
36 months |
End date: |
Augst 31st, 2023 |
Project Coordinator |
EIBIR |
Scientific Coordinator: |
Prof. Christoph Hoeschen, OvGU |
Clinical Coordinator |
Prof. Guy Frija, UP |
Consortium: |
29 partners from 17 countries |
Total funding: |
€1,959,175.00 |
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:
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.
This project has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2019-2020 under grant agreement No 899995.