EU drive to increase expertise on chemical effects on humans
5 Jan 2017 by qwqcdhhcbc.d qwqcdhhcbc.d
An EU-backed study is to begin this month to increase the number of researchers able to assess the impact of chemicals on the human endocrine system.
An EU-backed study is to begin this month to increase the number of researchers able to assess the impact of chemicals on the human endocrine system.
The chemicals under review will include natural fungal toxins and manmade chemicals such as pesticides. The €4m study will also investigate if they are responsible for causing cancer, diabetes, obesity or infertility.
Dr Lisa Connolly, from Queen’s University Belfast, and lecturer at their Institute for Global Food Security, said: “Currently there is a world-wide shortage of researchers who can assess the impact of potentially dangerous natural and manmade endocrine disrupting chemicals and their mixtures on the hormone system which controls important functions within the body such as growth, development and fertility. We also need to understand whether these chemicals can cause illness by damaging the health of good bacteria in the gut.”The four year Marie Curie Innovative Training network project is called PROTECTED (PROTECTion against Endocrine Disruptors) and begins this month. As part of this project, 15 early stage researchers will receive PhD training. There will also be a focus on human pregnancy – important due to the vulnerability of a developing baby to chemicals.
Queen’s University will receive €1.2m with three researchers based there. In all, there will be 13 organisations involved in the PROTECTED scheme, including universities, food technology companies and a water supplier.
Dr Connolly said: “The exact effects of endocrine disruptors are difficult to assess so far because of the complexity of the chemical mixtures involved and the lack of efficient methods to assess their effects.
“This newly established consortium is an exciting opportunity as it provides unique, world-leading and cutting-edge training for a new generation of experts who will have the ability to develop innovative analysis tools which will help protect the world from the real-life risks of these chemicals, improving health now and in the future.”
More information can be found at www.protected.eu.com. The closing date for PhD applications is Monday 9 January.