![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/05\/Kuvakaappaus-Stakeholderworkshop-2024-1024x574.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n___<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key outcomes, impact and future directions discussed in Kuopio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The final EDCMET General Assembly was arranged in Kuopio, Finland, on 8 – 9 April 2024. In the meeting, the work of the past more than five years was summed up. The key findings and outcomes were presented, and the impact and future directions beyond EDCMET were discussed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was an open session for invited speakers, too. We heard great presentations by Eva Kumar from the Finnish Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Marjukka Kolehmainen from the University of Eastern Finland (Institute of Public Health and Welfare) and Raimo Pohjanvirta from the University of Helsinki (Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The work towards safer environment and better health will continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ___<\/p>\n\n\n\n Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are defined as exogenous chemicals that alter functions of the endocrine system, thereby causing adverse health effects in an organism or its progeny. These substances are also suspected of being related to the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, high blood cholesterol and diabetes. However, validated methods to evaluate the metabolic effects of endocrine disruptors have been lacking for a long time. There is also a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which these chemical compounds disrupt metabolic processes and can cause health impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EDCMET arranges a stakeholder workshop on 24 April 2024, 9 -12 CET. The workshop is arranged as an online-only event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We welcome representatives from research, regulatory authorities, industry, civil society and contract research organisations, policy makers as well as other experts working in the field of EDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the workshop, the EDCMET speakers provide insight into the scientific achievements and the progress in method development. In addition, stakeholders share their perspectives on the work done in EDCMET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click here for more information and the programme<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET General Assembly meeting was held online on 30 \u2013 31 October 2023. There were excellent presentations and lively discussions on the final steps of the project as well as the results and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An online EDCMET stakeholder workshop is being planned for April \u2013 May 2024 \u2013 Stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EURION Cluster<\/a> Annual Meeting 2023 was held face-to-face in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 30-31 January 2023. The idea of the meeting was to present and discuss the latest advances in research by the cluster towards improving the identification of endocrine disrupters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a general overview of the meeting, see EURION Annual Meeting Report 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For research highlight updates from the eight cluster projects, see EURION Annual Meeting 2023 presentations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project held the General Assembly meeting 2023 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 1 \u2013 2 February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was very helpful to meet face-to-face and discuss the project work and progress together. It was also great fun to collaborate and discuss the work more inofficially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sirpa Pietik\u00e4inen, a Member of the European Parliament, visited the University of Eastern Finland on 1 November 2022. Pietik\u00e4inen held a meeting with the coordinator of the EDCMET project, professor Anna-Liisa Levonen, senior researcher Jenni K\u00fcblbeck and assistant professor Vittorio Fortino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the meeting MEP Sirpa Pietik\u00e4inen held a public lecture on unknown health risks. The lecture provoked many thoughts in the audience. Pietik\u00e4inen is doing excellent work raising awareness of environmental risk factors for health, including endocrine disrupters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project was delighted to host the visit and is looking forward to further collaboration!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n EDCMET organises a workshop on 6 \u2013 8 July 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. The workshop deals with the population-based assessment of exposure to chemicals and ED-related metabolic effects (EDCMET work package 4). The workshop consists five main sessions during three days. The EDCMET work package 4 warmly welcomes other EDCMET members, EURION cluster colleagues and the External Scientific Advisory Board members to participate in the workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n EURION cluster<\/a> consists of eight projects that determine new testing and screening methods to identify endocrine disruptors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EURION has now developed a policy brief which sets out new and innovative tests for endocrine disrupters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the EURION news here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Download the policy brief here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EURION Annual Meeting took place online on 20 \u2013 21 January 2022. Tens of EURION colleagues spent two days discussing the latest advances and discussion the future plans in research towards improving the identification of EDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project held a General Assembly meeting at German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, on 18 \u2013 19 November 2021. Some participants followed the meeting online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the first day, the stakeholder workshop outcomes, EURION collaboration as well as the project progress were presented and discussed. On the second day, there were thematic breakout groups to enhance collaboration between the different scientific teams. The many formal and informal face-to-face discussions were of great value. Some work is a little behind the planned schedule but all in all the project is progressing well. We are expecting valuable EDCMET results and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n EDCMET stakeholder workshop takes place on 17 November 2021 at 12:30 \u2013 17 CET. The stakeholder workshop gathers representatives from research, regulatory authorities, industry, civil society and contract research organisations, policymakers as well as other experts working in the field of EDCs. At the workshop, results from the first phase of the EDCMET project as well as stakeholder perspectives are presented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The workshop is open to all and free of charge. No registration is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See the programme of the workshop here (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hormonih\u00e4irik\u00f6t voivat v\u00e4ijy\u00e4 my\u00f6s lihavuuden ja diabeteksen taustalla \u2013 It\u00e4-Suomen yliopisto on mukana kansainv\u00e4lisess\u00e4 tutkimushankkeessa, jossa selvitet\u00e4\u00e4n ymp\u00e4rist\u00f6vaikutusten yhteytt\u00e4 metabolisiin sairauksiin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read about the EDCMET project in the local newspaper Karjalainen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we think about the development of fatty liver, metabolic disruptors can contribute to it in a number of ways. For example, they can activate nuclear receptors that regulate fat metabolism in cells and increase the accumulation of fat in liver cells. They can also increase oxidative stress, which depletes cellular resources and reduces the ability of cells to react to environmental stimuli\u201d, says EDCMET Project Researcher Sini Pitk\u00e4nen. Read the whole article Microbial therapy for fatty liver<\/a> by Ulla Kaltiala, University of Eastern Finland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the picture, project researher Sini Pitk\u00e4nen from the University of Eastern Finland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n Save the date: EDCMET stakeholder workshop is arranged on 17 November 2021. The workshop is arranged as an online event. The idea of the workshop is to present the results from the first phase of the EDCMET project and to hear the feedback from the stakeholders. Mark the day to your calendars today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first EURION Newsletter<\/a> is out now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n To receive the next EURION newsletter and any other exciting cluster news, subscribe the EURION news<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET General Assembly meeting was held online on 3 February 2021. Over 30 EDCMET staff members gathered together to catch up with the project progress and to view the steps for the following years. Also, we received valuable feedback and comments from the External Scientific Advisory Board members. One highlight of the day were the short presentations given by young researchers and postdocs working for the project, for example Azam Rashidian (University of T\u00fcbingen), Raghavendra Mysore (University of Eastern Finland), Brecht Attema (Wageningen University), Outi Kummu (University of Oulu) and Saranya Palasniswamy (University of Oulu).<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EURION Cluster Annual Meeting<\/a> was held virtually on 28 \u2013 29 January 2021. The EDCMET project highlights were presented to the cluster colleagues and well as stakeholders. In the virtual poster hall, the EDCMET project staff presented seven posters. Assistant Professor Vittorio Fortino\u2019s<\/a> poster was one of the spotlight posters that were presented in the virtual auditorium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Second Annual Forum on Endocrine Disruptors<\/a> arranged by the European Commission will take place virtually on 17 \u2013 18 December 2020. The Forum will bring together scientists, policy makers, public and private stakeholders with expertise on endocrine disruptors to exchange information and best practices, identify challenges and build synergies,<\/strong> in order to inform the Commission\u2019s reflections. The EURION cluster and the EDCMET project are presented in the afternoon on 17 December 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EURION stakeholder workshop takes place online on 11 December 2020. The workshop will gather representatives from regulatory authorities, industry, civil society and contract research organisations, policymakers as well as other experts working in the field of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The purpose of this workshop is to present and discuss stakeholder views, needs and expectations related to EDC test method development within EURION. For more information, see EURION website<\/a>. The EURION cluster<\/a> consists of eight projects receiving funding from the same Horizon 2020 call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project outline<\/a> is presented in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences special Issue \u201cAdvances in the Research of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2.0\u201d. During its 5-year journey, EDCMET aims to identify novel ED mechanisms of action, to generate (pre)validated test methods to assess the metabolic effects of EDs, and to predict emergent adverse biological phenotypes by following the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) paradigm. Find out more in the publication!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also our colleagues from EURION cluster published interesting review articles on their projects in the same special issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project was supposed to present a poster at the 2020 SOT Annual Meeting \u2013 Society of Toxicology<\/a> in Anaheim, USA. Due to COVID-19, the face-to-face conference was cancelled. The EDCMET poster can be found below (poster in pdf format<\/a>). The conference was carried out partly online. The online materials can be found on the conference website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project can be found in Twitter! You may follow us at @edcmet_eu.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, the EURION cluster now uses Twitter. See @EurionCluster<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Reserchers\u2019 Night <\/a>is a mega-event that takes place every year at the same time in many European cities. This year, Researchers\u2019 Night was organised on 27 September 2019. In Finland, the EDCMET project was present at the Reseachers\u2019 Night at the Matkus shopping center in Kuopio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project had a stand Muovia, meikkej\u00e4 ja metabolinen oireyhtym\u00e4 <\/em>(\u201cPlastic, make-up and the Metabolic syndrome\u201d). At the stand, children could do pipetting experiments and adults received information on endocrine disrupting chemicals and the EDCMET project. The visitors were very interested, and worried, on the possible effects of different chemicals in cosmetics, food and our daily environment. Altogether about 180 children tried out the EDCMET mini laboratory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n The EDCMET project flyer is ready and is being distributed at different events. Downoad the EDCMET flyer<\/a> (pdf).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adequate validated toxicological testing strategies for metabolic effects of EDs are lacking and the current testing tools do not appropriately identify effects related to pathways or health outcomes, in which metabolic EDs may be implicated. To read more on EDCMET and our approach to address this and other gaps in EDC testing and to develop novel testing methods for regulatory purposes, see our recent article Investigating the Metabolic Impact of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals<\/a> in R&D Magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n EDCMET is the \u201cProject of the Month\u201d of the East and North Finland EU Office in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The news is in Finnish: EDCMET on hanke, joka yhdist\u00e4\u00e4 usean tieteenalan asiantuntijoita tarkoituksenaan tutkia ymp\u00e4rist\u00f6kemikaaleja, joilla on hormonien kaltaisia vaikutuksia. Lue lis\u00e4\u00e4\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ____<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Group](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/04\/20240409_140835-01-1024x620.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET Stakeholder Workshop on 24 April 2024:
Improved methods for assessment of metabolic effects of EDs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Improved](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/02\/Stakeholder-workshop-picture-24April2024.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET General Assembly 30 \u2013 31 October 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2023\/10\/Nayttokuva-2023-10-31-145350-edcmet-1024x480.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEURION Annual Meeting 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EURION](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2023\/04\/20230130_134301-1024x731.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"EURION](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2023\/04\/Lounas-1024x662.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET General Assembly meeting 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2023\/04\/20230202_133309-01-1024x610.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2023\/04\/GA-meeting-lunch-939x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMEP Sirpa Pietik\u00e4inen meets EDCMET project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Group](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/11\/KuvaGroupPietikainen-1024x837.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Sirpa](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/11\/KuvaPietikainenLevonen-1024x764.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET WP4 workshop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/06\/Logo-WP4-workshop2.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNew Policy Brief: Towards safer chemicals recommendations for reliable test methods to identify EDs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EURION](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/04\/EURION-picture-policy-brief-1024x470.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEURION Annual Meeting 20 \u2013 21 January 2022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EURION](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/04\/vilkuttaminen-1024x465.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET General Assembly 18-19 November 2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/11\/1637247789951-1024x618.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET Stakeholder Workshop 17 November 2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/11\/Stakeholder-workshop-programme-picture-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDo endocrine disrupters have metabolic effects?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Karjalainen](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/10\/Jenni-ja-Sini-labra-Karjalainen-27loka2021-1024x724.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEnvironmental chemicals and fatty liver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sini](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/10\/Sini-Pitkanen.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET Stakeholder Workshop 17 November 2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Stakeholder](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/06\/Stakeholder-workshop-picture-Twitter-and-website-29June2021.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEURION Newsletter #1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EURION](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/04\/EURION-Newsletter-March2021.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET General Assembly 3 February 2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Online](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/02\/General-Assembly-3Feb2021-picture-group3-1024x591.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET at the EURION Annual Meeting 28 \u2013 29 January 2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Virtual](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2021\/02\/Lounge-28Jan2021-1024x505.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEURION introduced at the Second Annual Forum on Endocrine Disruptors 17 \u2013 18 Dec 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
EURION Stakeholder Workshop 11 Dec 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Introductions to EDCMET and other EURION projects published in IJMS Special Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/06\/Kuva-nettisivuille-12kes\u00e42020-1024x523.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET Poster for the SOT Conference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/SOT-conference-poster-March-2020.JPG-1024x725.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollow us via Twitter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/edcmet-twitter.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nECDMET at Researchers\u2019 Night in Kuopio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Children](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Tutkijoiden-Ty\u00f6-kuvakollaasi3-1024x622.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET Flyer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Flyer_frontpage-picture.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEDCMET featured in R&D Magazine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Project of the Month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kick-off meeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Group](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/05\/EDCMET_Kick-off-Meeting-01Feb2019-GroupPhoto-1024x771.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"EDCMET](\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/edcmet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/EDCMET_logo_rgb-1024x381.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"