Research on risk identification, early risk detection and risk reduction

For scientific risk assessment knowledge is needed about the properties, mechanisms of action, functionality and host-pathogen relationships of micro-organisms, viruses and substances. The focus of research is on

• incorporating holistic considerations along the entire production chain of foods based on the “farm to fork” principle in order to fully trace, if necessary, the causes of the contamination of foods with pathogens or contaminants;

• new approaches to the examination of food safety, chemical safety and the safety of consumer products which permit faster and more precise statements on toxic properties whilst avoiding animal experiments;

• the development of sensitive methods for the detection of actual or possible toxic substances;

• the identification and assessment of risk potential in the course of production and manufacturing processes.

Research areas

• Food hygiene
• Antibiotic resistance
• Detection and effects of toxic substances
  Development of modern methods for the detection and on the effects of potentially toxic substances formed more particularly during the processing of food and feed
• Contaminants in food and feed
  Research on recording and on the effects of contaminants in food, feed and drinking water including "carry over"
• Biofunctionality and safety of foods
• Molecular toxicological and computer-aided methods
  Development and advancement of molecular-toxicological and computer-aided methods which permit a reliable, rapid statement on toxic effects as the basis of risk assessment
• Establishment of safety factors
  Establishing data-protected based safety factors for the assessment of chemicals
• Mechanisms of action of toxicologically relevant chemicals
• Use of gene and protein expression analyses in risk assessment
• Use of QSAR in chemical assessment
• Toxic substances in consumer products, cosmetics and tobacco
  Detection and mechanisms of action of toxic substances and their metabolites in consumer products, cosmetics and tobacco
• Nanotechnology
  Development of research strategies for the early risk detection in the field of nanotechnology

Projects

• SiLeBAT - Ensuring the safety of the food and feed supply chain in case of damage resulting from bio or agro terrorism attacks

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