About CO-CHER

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France

• Ensure efficient and effective administrative and fiscal management of the project.


• Arrange partners’ meetings and meetings of the Core group, Scientific Experts, and stakeholders.


• Ensure close interactions between various work packages and timely execution of the project.

Leaders:
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz; BfS), Germany

Description of work:

• Task 2.1: Establishment of an international network of research institutes committed to long-term research on Chernobyl (Leader: IARC)


• Task 2.2: Development of a Chernobyl Research Programme and timetable (Leader: BfS)
  
  
  • Discuss research priorities based on the Agenda for Research on Chernobyl Health (ARCH) strategic research agenda (SRA).
  
  
  • Develop a Chernobyl Research Programme based on agreed-upon priorities and the available infrastructures identified in WP3.

Leaders:
The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (Säteilyturvakeskus; STUK), Finland
The National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (RCRM), Ukraine
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz; BfS), Germany

Description of work:

• Task 3.1: Evaluation of cohorts of exposed populations suitable to form Chernobyl lifespan cohorts (Leader: STUK)
  
  
  • Assess the need to integrate existing cohorts of Chernobyl cleanup workers in the Baltic countries, Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, as well as cohorts of children with direct thyroid activity measurements in Belarus and Ukraine, into future lifespan studies.
  
  
  • Identify and assess the suitability of other cohorts (offspring of cleanup workers, etc.) for inclusion in the Chernobyl lifespan cohorts.
  
  
  • Reach agreements with the data custodians for collaboration and use of the data.


• Task 3.2: Inventory of previous dosimetric approaches and existing databases (Leader: RCRM)
  
  
  • Assess the dosimetric approaches used in the past and identify areas that require improvement.


• Task 3.3: Inventory of stored biological samples (Leader: BfS)
  
  
  • Develop a questionnaire and collect and evaluate information on existing tissue banking in the three most affected countries.
  
  
  • Conduct site visits to assess the quality of infrastructures (registries, databases, and biobanks).
  
  
  • Analyse questionnaire responses and site visit reports to recommend either the creation of a new tissue bank specifically for the Chernobyl-related projects or the integration of these projects’ samples into the existing Chernobyl Tissue Bank.

Leader:
The Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative (MELODI) Association, France

Description of work:

• Identify potential stakeholders among donors and funding organizations and organize a meeting of these stakeholders to discuss and agree on possible funding mechanisms.

Leader:
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), France

Description of work:

• Task 5.1: Obtainment of formal agreements with the relevant authorities and governments


• Task 5.2: Establishment of a structure for the coordination of long-term research on Chernobyl
  
  
  • Disseminate the conclusions drawn from the work conducted within WPs 2, 3, and 4 to the research community and stakeholders.
  
  
  • Organize an international symposium of research institutions and funding agencies to agree on a coordinating mechanism.
  
  
  • If an agreement is reached, establish a coordinating body for implementation of the research programme.