Risk Research at Utrecht University

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Risk Research atUtrecht University

• Prof. Dr. Wim C. Turkenburg
• University day Risk Management Utrecht, 6
  December 2007

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Four multi-disciplinary research institutes
within UU UMC

• Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences (135) -
  prof. dr. Bert Brunekreef
• Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development
  and Innovation(110) - prof. dr. Wim Turkenburg
• Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary
  Care (380) - prof. dr. Rick Grobbee
• Ethics Institute (20) - prof. dr. Marcus Düwell

Copernicus Institute Sustainable Development and
Innovation
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Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS)

• Mission
• to provide education and research on the human
  health risks of exposure to potentially harmful
  agents in the environment, at the workplace and
  through the food chain. Effects on ecosystems are
  also considered.

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Environmental epidemiology

• Focus on exposure assessment, using a combination
  of monitoring and modelling methods
• Investigate exposure-response relationships
  through epidemiological studies
• General environmental and occupational risk
  assessment

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Examples

• Environmental epidemiological studies
• Long-term effects of traffic-related outdoor air
  pollution on cause-specific mortality
• Exposure to, and health impacts of pollution
  during commuting
• Factors that determine the development of allergy
  and asthma in (early) childhood, (birth cohort
  studies)
• Determinants of childhood asthma.
• Occupational epidemiological studies
• Development of sensitization and respiratory
  allergy in the working environment
  (disinfectants, latex, wheat, biotechnologically
  produced enzymes, pig and cow allergens)
• Evaluation exposure response relationships and
  interactions between chemical and biological
  agents
• Development of markers of microbial exposure
  (e.g. endotoxin)
• Relations between occupational exposures
  (radiation, bitumen) and cancer

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Exploring a sustainable world

• Mission Copernicus Institute
• Investigate and develop processes and
  opportunities for innovative change towards
  sustainability
• Contribute to the development of knowledge,
  techniques, methods and instruments in the field
  of sustainable development, taking note of
  related social debates and policy processes
• Make a difference in science, education, and
  society at large.

relative impact
publications/year
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Copernicus Research Program

• Energy for Sustainable Development (STS)
• Land Use, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
  (ESG)
• Dynamics and Governance of Innovation Systems
  (ISG)
• Governance for Sustainable Development (ESPG)

Copernicus Institute Sustainable Development and
Innovation
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Energy and Global Change Dealing with Risks and
Uncertainties

• Tools for assessment communication of
  quantifiable and unquantifiable uncertainty
• Checklists for Knowledge Quality Assessment
• Theory development on uncertainty,
  multi-causality and Precautionary Principle
• Participatory Integrated Assessment of risks
• Cases
• Risks of CO2 storage in geological reservoirs
• Climate Adaptation under uncertainty
• .....

Copernicus Institute Sustainable Development and
Innovation
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Highlights
RIVM / MNP Uncertainty Guidance
Copernicus Institute Sustainable Development and
Innovation
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JULIUS CENTER facts and figures

• One of the twelve autonomous divisions of the UMC
  Utrecht
• Main focus Research, Education, Patient Care
• Research output 2006
• 35 PhD Theses
• 85 national publications
• 32 (chapters in) books
• 394 international publications

Clinical Epidemiology
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Research organization
Technology Assessment of blood transfusion (TTA)
Collaboration with IRAS
risk assessment not a main theme
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TA of Blood Transfusion

• Collaboration between Sanquin Blood Supply
  Foundation and Julius Center since 2002
• Technology Assessment
• The systematic evaluation of the properties and
  impacts of implementation of blood transfusion
  technology. Its primary purpose is to provide
  objective information to support policy making
• Focus
• Blood screening interventions, reducing risk of
  transmission of infectious diseases
• (Creutzfeldt-Jakob case in todays evening
  session)

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Ethics Institute

• Research, education and consultancy in the fields
  of bio-ethics and health law.
• Multidisciplinary medical people, veterinarians,
  social scientists, philosophers.
• Focus on healthcare ethics, animal ethics and
  food ethics.
• Applied ethics in relation to law, information
  technology, economics and public policy.

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Risk research at Ethics Institute

• Risk, uncertainty ethics in technological
  developments
• Food safety trust
• Can one offer people money for donating parts of
  their body (also in relation to risks)?
• Public health ethics can one give asymptomatic
  (healthy) people medicine to prevent health risks?

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Education some examples

• Bachelor courses
• Risk Management (B3, 7.5 ECTS, 80 students/yr)
• ...
• Master Programmes
• Epidemiology (Int. Prestige Master)
• Toxicology and Environmental Health
• Sustainable Development (Int. Prestige Master)
• ...
• PhD education
• International Summer Schools
• SENSE Research School
• ...

Copernicus Institute Sustainable Development and
Innovation