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CASCADE achievements

The fifth year

Five years has passed since CASCADE started. During this time CASCADE has developed into a highly successful network of experts in food safety. A key to the success is CASCADE's firm belief in collaboration, something that lays at heart of all CASCADE's activities.

CASCADE has provided the European public with serious advice based on our findings about human health risks related to chemicals in food items. Most recently, CASCADE researchers screened baby food and bread for chemical contaminants. But CASCADE has also influenced legislation on chemicals to ensure that European consumers are protected against dangerous chemical contaminants in foodstuff. One opinion paper on the aspects endocrine disruption has been produced, and one about the effects of Bisphenol-A.

One of CASCADE's most important goals is to disseminate the results from research and risk assessment that is made in the network. During the fifth year, CASCADE has brought back our research results to the European consumers by organising an Open Forum about endocrine disrupting chemicals. Moreover, CASCADE researchers have been present in European press, radio and TV several times and the CASCADE Magazine, a 40-pages information piece about CASCADE research, has been distributed to over 3000 persons.

The CASCADE magazine

The fourth year

With joint forces many outstanding scientific results have been achieved during CASCADE's fourth year. For example, analytical test methods have been improved and new exposure data have been compiled. (A public website presenting newest data related to the CASCADE model compounds is under construction.) By combining the existing knowledge and techniques, CASCADE researches have developed an integrated food test system. This test system is unique in its broad applicability and sensitivity and is now being used to study bread and babyfood for endocrine disrupting contaminants. In parallel, CASCADE is building up collaborations with the United States Environment Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Here, CASCADE screening methods will support a worldwide Molecular Screening Project.

 Number of established collaborations          before and within CASCADE

The third year

CASCADE research has increased in size and strength. Fruitful collaborations have resulted in many joint research publications. CASCADE has introduced two new partners reinforcing the knowledge base of the network. Furthermore, CASCADE has launched a Young Investigator Grant directed to newly established, independent CASCADE researchers.

To sustain joint activities, CASCADE has established an electronic platform. This includes for example a scientific database holding information on plasmids, equipment, cell-lines, animals, and methods available in CASCADE laboratories.

During this year, CASCADE has been awarded a Marie Curie course project. The course programme implies a comprehensive training programme in health risk assessment. Ten courses will be open for 300 students, and grants covering travel and living expenses will be provided.

CASCADE activities have been visible through several channels including the website, brochures, newsletters, press releases, newspapers, journals, advertisements, workshops, conferences, and summer schools. CASCADE is firmly committed to continue these efforts to ensure that CASCADE activities will be disseminated – to European and international organisations that may benefit from it.

The second year

The second year of CASCADE was highlighted by several outreaching activities. In Visby, Sweden, an Open Forum was held where multiple stakeholders such as industry, EU authorities, environmental health organisations, researchers, and consumers met and discussed common goals and potential actions.

Special attention was given to catalyse collaborations between different European researchers in the field of endocrine disrupters.

CASCADE launched the ALLIANCE project, a collaboration with EU-funded projects closely coupled to CASCADE, including CRESCENDO, PIONEER, EWA, ATHON, and CAESAR. 

CASCADE was involved in the writing and submission of several EU proposals and initiated collaborations with EU projects in risk assessment activities such as SAFEFOODS and FIRE.

The scientific structure of the network was strengthened by funding of PhD and post doc positions, by providing travel grants, training, and courses.

Today, CASCADE offers a strong and comprehensive teaching and mentorship programme in the field of endocrine disrupters, food safety and health risk assessment.

The first year

During its first year CASCADE established efficient and reliable structures for network management, internal communication, and training. A number of workshops took place, where research and ideas from the participating scientists were presented and discussed.

Close collaborations were established in order to capture and encourage a better use of resources. Different working groups were set up to deal with concrete issues such as career development and gender, education, integration, risk assessment, science and society, scientific review, and ethical review.

CASCADE initiated contacts with regulatory authorities in order to spread scientific information and to meet the raising awareness of European citizens regarding food health risks.

Summaries of the Periodic Activity Reports for the last periods:

• First year (2004)
• Seccond year (2005)
• Third year (2006)
• Fourth year (2007)
• Fifth year (2008)