Course leader presentation: Paul Scheepers

Applications of Biological Monitoring in Occupational Health, 3-5.10.2023, online course

Paul T.J. Scheepers obtained his MSc in environmental sciences at Wageningen University and his PhD in toxicology at Radboud University where he was appointed assistant professor in toxicology in 1995. He founded the Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology. In 2007 he obtained his associate professorship in risk assessment and molecular epidemiology. His teaching has a focus on exposure and health risk assessment. With his research group he develops human biological monitoring methods with applications in occupational and environmental health. He coordinated several EU projects in this field. Currently he contributes to scientific committees in the Netherlands (Health Council and the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment) and to committees and working groups of EUROTOX, WHO and ILO. He chairs the board of the Contact Group Chemistry and Health (CGC) and is president of the Europe Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe). Since 2022 his research group and laboratory became part of the Environmental Science cluster of the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES) of the Radboud University, Nijmegen.

Why do you think that “Applications of Biological Monitoring in Occupational Health” is an important and current issue to discuss in 2023?

The development of the concept of biological monitoring has a long history with a substantial contribution from Europe. Due to the recently completed partnership of the European Commission with EU member states in the European Human Biological Monitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) and the prospect of its further development as part the Partnership for the Assessment of the Risk of Chemicals (PARC) there is opportunity in the coming to take biomonitoring to the next level: adopting biological monitoring in regulatory frameworks and stimulating further scientific development and support its use in human health risk assessment in the context of occupational health and safety.

What do you want to say to the participants of the course?

The course will offer the basics on the scientific concepts relevant to human biological monitoring and will provide the necessary knowledge and skills to bring this approach into practice. During the course practical applications will be used to demonstrate good practices. Research projects will show the added value of biomonitoring in occupational health research projects. The course will also provide an introduction to the ethics and communication aspects, both vital for a successful implementation of this concept in occupational health. When returning home, you will feel prepared to start your own biomonitoring project. This first project will be a good learning opportunity on how to deal with the many aspects around this topic. It is good to realize that there are many colleagues who already have this experience and will be helping you with some advice. This experience will then hopefully increase your enthusiasm and take you to your next biomonitoring project. I am looking forward to meeting you and discuss about your own experience!

More information: Course webpage
Registration: Course registration
Last registration date: September 19th 2023