Two calls for research projects to gain a better understanding of environmental and occupational health risks
On Monday, 16 October, as part of the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), ANSES is issuing two calls for research projects, on environmental and occupational health and the theme of radiofrequencies. The aim is to gain a better understanding of issues that are still relatively unexplored, but which are considered to be of major importance to human health and ecosystems. Multidisciplinary projects incorporating socio-economic aspects and holistic approaches are eagerly awaited.
Every year, ANSES issues calls for research projects as part of the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST).
This programme has several objectives. The first is to generate useful scientific knowledge to enhance the expert health risk appraisals carried out by the Agency: “With the PNR EST, we are boosting research into known issues that have been little studied or are just emerging” explains Laetitia Dubois, Director of the Research Funding & Scientific Watch Department at ANSES. “The aim is to add to the body of scientific data on these subjects. In some cases, the programme can be an opportunity to issue alerts”. The research funded can also be used to develop new risk assessment methods or impact-study methodologies, which can be particularly useful in the regulatory context. Lastly, the programme enables scientific communities to be structured and mobilised to tackle questions related to environmental and occupational health.
Around 40 projects are funded each year, for a duration of one to three years.
Topics deemed to be of major importance to health
The priority research issues identified this year include multiple exposures to environmental and occupational factors, endocrine disruptors, characterisation of the exposome and its effects on health, light pollution, micro- and nanoplastics, the life cycle of waste, and the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. The calls for projects are also focusing on changing technologies and practices, including exposure to radiofrequencies and the impact of changes in lifestyles and in the way that work is organised.
Calls open until December
Two calls for projects are being issued simultaneously: one is general, focusing on the themes of environmental and occupational health, while the other is specific and deals with the subject of radiofrequencies and health. Interested scientists are invited to submit letters of intent outlining their projects by 7 December 2023 for the general call for projects and by 19 December 2023 for the call for projects on radiofrequencies and health.
Multidisciplinary projects are expected, corresponding to the priority issues identified in the calls and incorporating socio-economic aspects and holistic approaches.
The projects selected will be financed by ANSES from budgets delegated by the Ministries of the Environment, Labour, Health and Agriculture, along with two other co-funding partners: the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), and the AVIESAN alliance’s multi-agency thematic institute for cancer (ITMO Cancer).