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Spreading of Excellence

Spreading of Excellence or Dissemination towards the community is a major objective of CASCADE. The coordination of dissemination activities are shared by three work packages: WP3 - CASCADE Meetings, WP8 - Dissemination activities, WP6 – Development of a Nuclear Receptor Database. The common objectives of these WPs are to provide consumers with reliable information and to establish a close interaction with relevant interest groups (stakeholders). 

 

WP3 - CASCADE Meetings

A main objective of the CASCADE Network of Excellence is to promote integration among European scientists. CASCADE has established an extensive meeting agenda that allows the network participants to meet, interact and establish fruitful collaborations. Furthermore, all CASCADE partners are asked to actively participative in national and international scientific meetings by exchanging and presenting their research results.

 Discussion about REACH at the CASCADE Open Forum in Helsinki, 2007

From the left: Jari Luukkonen (WWF Finland), Bengt Fjällborg (Akzo Nobel), Annika Marniemi (Finish Consumers Association), Heikki Salonen (SYKE), Göran Wall (Swedish Plastics and Chemicals Federation) and Joan-Albert Vericat (IVTIP)

An important concern of CASCADE is to investigate new possibilities to create a sustainable and durable network. Several meetings are organised in order to promote strategic actions. CASCADE has conducted a study to assess possibilities in entering into a legal framework. In this context, a forum has been established where leading European researchers and coordinators from other EU projects are invited to discuss joint initiatives, joint scientific projects and to identify important research issues for the future. Together with the presidents and directors of the CASCADE partner organisations, joint programmes of education and harmonising of administrative regulations are under discussion.

Contact: Network Office

WP6 - Nuclear Receptor Database

NuReBase is a public database on nuclear hormone receptors and endocrine disruptors developed by CASCADE partners. It contains information on the nomenclature, structure, phylogeny, function and expression pattern of nuclear receptors. Within WP6 activities lays the implementation of a platform which allows the storing of experimental data generated by CASCADE researchers. This includes for example bioinformatics resources for chemical contaminants that bind to and/or activate nuclear receptors. The platform will also be linked to the CASCADE database of joint research (WP7) in order to provide an easy access to available research tools for nuclear receptor, such as plasmids and stable cell lines expressing nuclear receptors.

WP8 - Dissemination Activities

The objective of WP8 is to disseminate network expertise, progress and results to different stakeholders. Representatives of CASCADE stakeholders are for example public health authorities, consumer associations, the scientific community, industry organisations and the general public.

Dissemination activities operate in multiple channels, where the CASCADE website is a major contributor. CASCADE also produces and distributes printed material including brochures, newsletters, press releases and advertisements.

Another task of WP8 is to promote communications inside the network. All CASCADE partners have access to an electronic platform. This platform provides several tools for a fast and reliable flow of information between partners, e.g. discussion boards, push mails and a database for joint research (WP7). Furthermore, as part of the CASCADE teaching activities, WP8 organizes trainings sessions where partners are introduced to different techniques of communication with the public and presentation technique.

CASCADE is committed to function as an advisory panel of experts to national, regional and European authorities. This includes spreading information to authorities in Europe about results and findings related to risks on the human health upon exposure to chemicals in food. Together with experts from the Risk assessment WPs, co-operation with public authorities are established. The common goal is to ensure the availability of clear risk information and to devise strategies which improve consumer understanding.

Contact: Network Office