Focus Network Nanoparticles and Health (NanoHealth)
Background
Contact
Dr. Wolfgang KreylingE-mail: kreyling@helmholtz-muenchen.de
Address
Helmholtz Zentrum München
Focus Network Nanoparticles and Health
Institute of Inhalation Biology
Ingolstädter Landstraße 1
D-85764 Neuherberg
Phone +49-(0)89/3187-2309
Fax: +49-(0)89/3187-3397
It has been shown that the inhalation of ambient air particles poses a health risk for susceptible populations. However, there is insufficient evidence as to which of the chemical, physical, or biological particle properties, including the gas phase, are relevant to observed health effects (see also references). Based on this fact five research institutes (EPI, IHB, IÖC, ISS, TOX) and one clinical working group (UDA) founded a consortium in order to:
- concentrate the existing expertise on the „health relevance of ambient aerosols“,
- promote research activities within this field,
- enhance the already established position within each institute and
- to obtain a leading position in aerosol research world-wide
The aim is to achieve these ambitious targets through interdisciplinary scientific collaboration within the different areas of research. It is planned to coordinate and extend activities currently conducted in each institute, to consolidate activities running in parallel and initiate well defined collaborations within a limited time frame. Existing scientific collaborations on relevant topics will be enhanced in order to find a comprehensive solution to the research issues in question. The participating GSF institutes and the clinical research group have already agreed to provide the manpower required to maintain the working group. It is planned to provide a limited number of personnel to administer the tasks within the working group.
These activities are in complete accordance with the new scientific agenda of the GSF and represent the first step towards a widespread collaboration within the GSF in the field of aerosol science. It is hoped that the initiative will motivate other GSF Institutes to provide the necessary expertise currently lacking in the working group.