gms | German Medical Science

MAINZ//2011: 56. GMDS-Jahrestagung und 6. DGEpi-Jahrestagung

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie e. V.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Epidemiologie e. V.

26. - 29.09.2011 in Mainz

The Mainz – Nagasaki Radiation Research Initiative

Meeting Abstract

  • Hiltrud Merzenich - Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz
  • Maria Blettner - Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz
  • Lucian Krille - Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz
  • Shunichi Yamashita - Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Nagasaki
  • Hajo Zeeb - Universität Bremen, Bremen

Mainz//2011. 56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (gmds), 6. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Epidemiologie (DGEpi). Mainz, 26.-29.09.2011. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2011. Doc11gmds326

doi: 10.3205/11gmds326, urn:nbn:de:0183-11gmds3265

Published: September 20, 2011

© 2011 Merzenich et al.
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Outline

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Introduction: The Mainz-Nagasaki Radiation Research Initiative is an collaboration between the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz and the Nagasaki University. The leading institutions are the Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (Mainz) and the Atomic Bomb Disease Institute (Nagasaki). The scientific cooperation started its activities in October 2009. The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for at least two years. The Mainz - Nagasaki Radiation Research Initiative will establish structures to support scientific exchange within research projects and personnel exchange between the partner institutions. http://www.imbei.uni-mainz.de/nagasaki/

Materials and methods: The concept entails the following components as specific actions:

Structure development:

- Establishment of a network secretariat and a scientific management board.

Actions to support direct research communication and collaboration:

- Workshop on ongoing radiation research activities and identification of future research plans

- Workshops on practical and sustainable joint research structures Mainz – Nagasaki

- Provision of support for feasibility studies for joint proposals (Research Award)

- Providing funding for research visits of Mainz researchers to Nagasaki, and vice versa

Results: After 1.5 years the following joint projects are in progress:

1 Comparative study on indications for paediatric computed tomographies in Japanese and German hospitals

The aim is an evaluation of medical indications for computed tomographies in children in the Nagasaki University Hospital and in University Medical Centre Mainz.

2 Comparative study on radiation doses in paediatric computed tomographies in Japanese and German hospitals

A comparative analysis of typical radiation dose ranges in paediatric computed tomographies in Japanese and German hospitals will be performed. Involved partners are University Medical Center Mainz, CR SANTEC Centre de Recherché Henri Tudor and Chiba National Institute for Radiological Science, Japan.

3 Survey among hospital and local medical doctors in Japan and Germany

The aim is to conduct a survey concerning knowledge about radiation doses and radiation risk among physicians in Japan (Nagasaki) based on a questionnaire developed for a corresponding German survey.

Discussion: The aim of the Mainz-Nagasaki-Radiation Research Initiative is to sustain research cooperation beyond the BMBF funding period. It is planned to develop a joint application for an international radiation research group as an instrument to conduct high-level research on radiation and health. The recent incidents in Japan may lead to intensified international research collaborations particularly in the field of ionizing radiation health effects.