Realising the European network of biodosimetry: RENEB--status quo

Abstract

Creating a sustainable network in biological and retrospective dosimetry that involves a large number of experienced laboratories throughout the European Union (EU) will significantly improve the accident and emergency response capabilities in case of a large-scale radiological emergency. A well-organised cooperative action involving EU laboratories will offer the best chance for fast and trustworthy dose assessments that are urgently needed in an emergency situation. To this end, the EC supports the establishment of a European network in biological dosimetry (RENEB). The RENEB project started in January 2012 involving cooperation of 23 organisations from 16 European countries. The purpose of RENEB is to increase the biodosimetry capacities in case of large-scale radiological emergency scenarios. The progress of the project since its inception is presented, comprising the consolidation process of the network with its operational platform, intercomparison exercises, training activities, proceedings in quality assurance and horizon scanning for new methods and partners. Additionally, the benefit of the network for the radiation research community as a whole is addressed.

The second gamma-H2AX assay inter-comparison exercise carried out in the framework of the European biodosimetry network (RENEB)

“…The aim of the EU RENEB (Realizing the European Network of Biodosimetry) project was to establish a sustainable European network for existing laboratories and using six established biodosimetry assays -(1) the dicentric assay; (2) the FISH-translocation assay; (3) the micronucleus assay; (4) the premature chromosome condensation assay; (5) the gamma-H2AX assay; and 6) electron paramagnetic resonance/optically stimulated luminescence. The objective of this work was to further strengthen the basis of the assays for use in emergency scenarios by harmonising responses between the partners through standardization of methods, training and intercomparison exercises (Kulka et al 2012(Kulka et al , 2015.…”

Uncertainty of fast biological radiation dose assessment for emergency response scenarios

“…Members of the European Union (EU) 7th Framework Programme (FP7) Realizing the European Network of Biodosimetry (RENEB) retrospective dosimetry mutual assistance network and European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) Working Group (WG) 10 on retrospective dosimetry have been developing and validating existing and new physical and biological exposure markers, to ensure that network members are ready to provide retrospective dosimetry to support emergency responders in the event of a large scale radiological event. Rapid biodosimetric categorization of individuals suspected of being exposed to ionizing radiation is based on dose information from the individual RENEB assays -the biological techniques based on scoring of dicentrics (DIC), micronuclei (MN), gamma-H2AX foci, prematurely condensed chromosomes (PCC), and the physical techniques of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) (Kulka et al 2015(Kulka et al , 2016.…”

“…Methods of uncertainty estimation for screening doses and biodosimetry triage or rapid categorization were previously developed under the EU FP7 multidisciplinary biodosimetric tools to manage high scale radiological casualties (MULTIBIODOSE) project (Jaworska et al 2015). Under RENEB, work has continued to refine the biological and statistical aspects of the assays to ensure readiness of the community to respond to a radiological or nuclear accident or incident Kulka et al 2015;Abend et al 2016). In this paper, the results of some recent work to refine the statistical aspects of the dosimetry methods are described, focusing on formal assessment of the uncertainties associated with rapid dose estimates and the associated categorization of individuals to support medical triage.…”

The harmonization process to set up and maintain an operational biological and physical retrospective dosimetry network: QA QM applied to the RENEB network

“…In a radiological emergency, dosimetry assays (dicentric chromosome, micronuclei (MN), gamma H2AX, Premature Condensed Chromosome (PCC), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) methods) are vital tools for determining the doses received by a large number of victims (IAEA 2011;Kulka et al 2015). After the first triage by clinical symptoms they help stakeholders and medical staff to identify patients who have actually been exposed and need medical care from those who have received little or no radiation (Voisin et al 2001;Roy et al 2007;Jaworska et al 2015).…”

“…A European network of biological and retrospective physical dosimetry 'RENEB' has been set up to develop the capacity and the capability to significantly contribute to European Radiation Emergency Preparedness (Kulka et al 2015). One important task to be performed is to ensure that in the case of major accident all network participants are able to effectively provide fast and reliable dose estimates.…”