title: Multidisciplinary European low dose initiative: an update of the MELODI program.
abstract: This paper provides an update and summary on the organization of European research in the field of low dose risk and radiation protection. To address declining resources and competence in radiation protection and related research across European countries, a High Level and Expert Group (HLEG) was established in 2007. The HLEG identified key policy and scientific questions to be addressed through a strategic research agenda for low dose radiation risk. This initiated the establishment of a European Research Platform, called MELODI (Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Research Initiative). Dr Bill Morgan closely followed the European low dose programme and chaired the international Advisory Boards of DoReMi Network of Excellence and the MELODI platform.
  
  
  
  The MELODI research platform is dedicated to low dose ionizing radiation risk. In 2010, MELODI was founded as a registered association with 15 members. As of September 2016, the association´s membership increased to 46. A major activity of MELODI is the establishment and updating of a long-term Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for research on low dose risk in Europe. The SRA is intended to guide the priorities for national and European research programmes and the preparation of competitive calls at the European level. A key priority for radiation protection research is to improve health risk estimates for exposures corresponding to the dose limits for occupational exposures and to reference levels for the exposure of the population in emergency situations.
authors.affiliation: a University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio and STUK, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Sisko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salomaa
authors.affiliation: b IRSN, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety , Fontenay-aux-Roses , France.
authors.forename: Jean-René
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jourdain
authors.affiliation: c German Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS , Neuherberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
authors.affiliation: c German Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS , Neuherberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: b IRSN, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety , Fontenay-aux-Roses , France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Repussard
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011853:Radiobiology / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Low dose effects; individual susceptibility; non-cancer effects; radiation carcinogenesis