On 26 May, NextGEM partners Maryse Ledent (Sciensano) and Maarten Velghe (RIVM) showcased NextGEM’s insights on the societal implications of 5G. They did so during the Clue-H-organised workshop “Societal and ethical impacts of 5G and RF-EMF technology”. The EMF and Health Cluster (Clue-H) is a group of four European EMF-related projects including NextGEM. The other three projects are: GOLIAT (organisors of this activity), ETAIN, and SeaWave.
The 4th Annual Conference of BioEM will take place next June 22-27 in Rennes, France. Worldwide EMF experts gather annually in a conference organised by the BioEM society. NextGEM partners will again play an important role during BioEM 2025. The consortium’s partners will present 3 oral presentations, host 2 oral sessions, show 7 posters, and participate in 2 workshops. See all participations here!
Oral sessions:
Joshua Ziegler (IMBEI, with the collaboration of IARC, BFS, FORTH, and RIVM): Umbrella review of RF-EMF exposure from far-field sources and cancer in humans
Olga Zeni (CNR): Biological effects of 5G radiofrequency exposure at 26.5 GHz in a human keratinocyte cell model
Derek Land (THUAS): Low Cost SDRs for RF EMF Exposure Measurements
With Erdal Korkmaz, Sam Aerts, & John Bolte as co-authors
Additionally, two partners will be Oral Session hosts:
Olga Zeni will host the 8th Oral Session: Advances in Electromagnetic Stimulation for Neural and Clinical Research
Stefania Romeo will co-host the 15th Oral Session: Computational and Theoretical Insights into EMF Interaction Mechanisms
Posters:
Olga Zeni – Radiofrequency, LTE signal exposure does not alter cancer-related endpoints in human neuroblastoma cell model either alone, or in combination with WiFi signal or menadione
Stefania Romeo (CNR) – A multi-physics analysis of electroporation phenomenon in A375 human melanoma cells: an in vitro and computational study
Maryse Ledent (SC) – Electromagnetic field sensitivity, symptoms and perceived health: a mediation and moderation analysis
Fulvio Schettino (UCAS) – A novel RF exposure system for live cell imaging in real time under confocal microscopy: a preliminary design
Seppe Segers (SC) – A whole-transcriptome approach to determine the effects of 5G-modulated RF-EMF exposure in keratinocytes
Maryse Ledent (SC) – Moderating effect of sensory processing sensitivity on the relationship of electrohypersensitivity on anxiety and depressive disorders
Marco Spirito (TUD) – Reduction of body effect RF EMF sensor with back reflector
Workshops:
Sam Aerts (THUAS): EMF exposure in telecom networks: past, present, and future, during the 3rd Tutorial session (5G Exposure assessment)
Additionally, alongside Rosa Orlacchio, Dr. Aerts will be the proposer of the 5th Workshop of BioEM: Innovative Applications of Electromagnetics: BioEM Young Scientists Leading the Way
About BioEM
BioEM “was established in 2021 [and] is an independent organization of biological and physical scientists, physicians and engineers interested in the interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems. BioEM is an international society with members from approximately 40 different countries and regions around the world”, says its website. They organise annually “the largest and most significant international conference worldwide in the area of bioelectromagnetics”. NextGEM partners have participated on its conferences since its first edition in 2022.
The Italian telcom infrastructure company FiberCop became the 22nd project partner of NextGEM. They joined an initiative generating knowledge on possible human-health effects of the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation, with special regards to the 5G implementation. FiberCop is an Italian company stemming from TIM, another NextGEM partner, and manages a nationwide fibre-optic and copper network.
FiberCop enters NextGEM by becoming the leaders of one of the case studies the project is to undertake. This case study focuses on improving urban planning and 5G network design to assess and communicate potential cancer-related risks from EMF. It includes real-world measurements using operational 5G base stations. The aim is to collect accurate, long-term data to build realistic statistical exposure models. These measurements will support simulations and in vitro experiments on cell exposure, contributing to risk assessment, public awareness, and the validation of data for the NIKH platform.
NextGEM partners met in Larnaca, Cyprus, on April 8-9, for the project’s 7thPlenary Meeting. Over 30 partners joined an event that was held by the local partners Sphynx and eBOS.
NextGEM partners pose during the 7th Plenary Meeting
The event served the double purpose of steering the upcoming months of the project, and putting together all the latest results and successes of the NextGEM’s research, as well as raising and sharing problems that might arise during the development of the research. During the two sessions of the meeting, the day-to-day was monitored, as well as the experiments and case studies to be undertaken on the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on humans.
The 7th Plenary Meeting kicked off with an overview of the project’s overarching goals, accomplishments and main hot points foreseen in the following months, such as the important NextGEM partners’ participation in the upcoming BioEM 2025. All the research lines forming the scientific backbone of the project were also discussed during that first session, too: the model- and sensor-based technologies for EMF exposure, the experimental approaches for assessing EMF biological and health-related effects, and hazard and risk assessment. The partners also discussed the upcoming NextGEM Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH), a digital platform under development that will aggregate validated research findings related to EMF exposure.
The second date was the moment to discuss the stakeholder engagement and the impact maximisation of the project, as well as the three case studies that are currently being developed. Building on the knowledge developed in earlier stages, the consortium is now advancing three real-world research studies focused on:
Investigating how EMF exposure may affect vulnerable populations, with a focus on reproductive health.
Assessing EMF-related cancer risks in the context of urban outdoor environments.
Exploring the potential impact of EMF on red blood cells in both indoor and outdoor settings.
The next meeting will be in Budapest
Sciproof will host the next plenary meeting in Budapest, Hungary, next fall. The consortium organises a new meeting twice a year to monitor the project’s day-to-day, steer its future, and discuss any problems that might arise.
About NextGEM
NextGEM is a four-year EU-funded project aiming to generate relevant knowledge that identifies appropriate control measures for EMF exposure. The project is about to enter its last year and is producing evidence-based insights to inform regulatory decisions on the implementation of the 5G technology, all of which promote confidence in the safety standards governing EMF exposure.
NextGEM is part of the EMF and Health Cluster (Clue-H), a network studying different approaches to the possible effects of EMF on health. This cluster involves four European Consortia (NextGEM, GOLIAT, SeaWave and ETAIN) with additional contributions from scientists outside the EU.
Over 30 participants from 21 different organisations joined a hybrid conference that serves the purpose of putting together the latest results and successes of the consortium, as well as sharing and raising problems that might arise during the implementation of the different lines of research. During the three sessions of the meeting, the day-to-day was monitored, as well as the experiments and case studies to be undertaken on the possible health effects of electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) on humans.
NextGEM partners pose during the 6th Plenary Meeting of the project
On the first day, THUAS showcased their installations before starting the plenary. NextGEM partners visited the KET labs during this visit. After this, all partners moved to the Technical University of Delft’s building, where the 6th Plenary Meeting officially started with the project’s overarching goals, accomplishments and discussions, as well as the communication, dissemination, exploitation and stakeholder engagement of NextGEM.
The second day of the meeting focused on the model- and sensor-based technologies for EMF exposure, experimental approaches for assessing biological and health-related effects of the electromagnetic field, and hazard and risk assessment. The upcoming NextGEM’s Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH), a website that will aggregate the project’s research results, was also discussed.
NextGEM will conduct three case studies on the effects of EMF. These will consider vulnerable populations, urban planning, 5G architecture, and both indoor and outdoor scenarios. The partners discussed these case studies on the third day of the meeting. After this successful meeting, the members of the consortium had the opportunity to visit TUD’s Next Generation Sensing and Communication Laboratory (XG-lab), a cluster of micro-wave laboratories where TUD partners perform EMF measurements, and the Green Village, “a living lab for sustainable innovations in home, work and living environments” in the heart of the Technical University of Delft.
Visiting the KET labs at THUASVisiting the KET labs at THUASNikolaus Petroulakis, NextGEM’s coordinator, speaking about the case studiesVisiting the XG-lab at TUDVisiting the XG-lab at TUDVisiting the XG-lab at TUD
The next meeting will be in Nicosia
Sphynx and eBos will host the next plenary meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, an event set for March/April 2025. The consortium organises a new meeting twice a year to monitor the day-to-day of the project, steer its future and discuss any problems that might arise.
About NextGEM
NextGEM is a 4-year-long EU-funded project aiming to generate relevant knowledge that identifies appropriate control measures for EMF exposure. The project aims to provide evidence-based insights to inform regulatory decisions and promote confidence in the safety standards governing EMF exposure, especially during the implementation of the 5G technology.
NextGEM is part of the EMF and Health Cluster (Clue-H), a network studying different approaches to the possible effects of EMF on health. This cluster involves four European Consortia (NextGEM, GOLIAT, SeaWave and ETAIN) with additional contributions from scientists outside the EU.
NextGEM leaders FORTH-ICS, and the coordinator of NextGEM Nikolaos Petroulakis, hosted the 3rd annual conference of BioEMin Chania, on the island of Crete (Greece). Worldwide EMF experts attended BioEM 2024, participated from June 16th to 21st. The conference is organised by the BioEM society, “an independent organisation of biological and physical scientists, physicians and engineers interested in the interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems.”
NextGEM partners pose during one of the BioEM 2024 sessions
BioEM is the world’s largest and most prestigious bioelectromagnetics conference. The Society’s annual conference attracts academic and industrial participants at all career stages from all over the world. Attendees have a great opportunity to engage with other professionals in this field and share the latest updates in this topic’s research. This was a great opportunity for many NextGEM partners, as this project is intrinsically related to BioEM.
“The main goal for hosting the BioEM was to give the chance to the community of EMF and health to come together to the Crete Island, present the current status of their research work and interact with NextGEM partners and the other partners from CLUE-H projects”, says Dr Nikolaos Petroulakis, NextGEM Project coordinatoratFORTH-ICS and local organizingchair of the conference.
A NextGEM-related poster, awarded with the First Prize of Student Poster Award
Seppe Segers is a PhD researcher at Sciensano. He won the first prize for the Student Poster Award thanks to his work under the title Cytogenetic effects of in vitro exposure to 5G-Modulated 3.5 GHz signal on HaCaT cell line: preliminary results from the NextGEM Project. “I presented our preliminary results about genotoxicity and the exposure to 5G-NR modulated radiofrequency EMF”, says Segers.
📸 Seppe Seggers won the first prize for the Student Poster Award during #BioEM2024.
The poster: "Cytogenetic effects of in vitro exposure to 5G-Modulated 3.5 GHz signal on HaCaT cell line: preliminary results from the NextGEM Project"
His work was not the only showcased during the poster sessions of the conference. Five more NextGEM-related posters were showcased during BioEM 2024. As follows, the whole list of all posters and authors of the posters under the umbrella of this project:
Cytogenetic effects of in vitro exposure to 5G-Modulated 3.5 GHz signal on HaCaT cell line: preliminary results from the NextGEM Project, by Mr Seppe Segers (Sciensano and UGent), Mrs Maryse Ledent (Sciensano), Mr Roel Anthonissen (Sciensano), Prof Lutgart Braeckman (Ugent), Dr Birgit Mertens (Sciensano)
MM-Wave Band Permittivity Characterization of C. Elegans, by Dr Pol Alonso (ICMAB-CSIC), Dr Gaetano Chirico (UCAS), Dr Anna Laromaine (ICMAB-CSIC), Prof Rita Massa (IREA-CNR and University of Naples), Prof Marco Donald Migliore (UCAS), Prof Fulvio Schettino (UCAS)
A narrative review on 5G NR EMF exposure sensing technologies, by Dr Erdal Korkmaz (THUAS), Dr Sam Aerts (THUAS), Mr Richard Richard Coesoij (Delft University of Technology), Dr Chhavi Raj Bhatt (ARPANSA), Mr Maarten Velghe (RIVM), Mr Derek Land (THUAS), Dr Nikolaos Petroulakis (ICS-FORTH), Dr Marco Spirito (Delft University of Technology), Dr John Bolte (THUAS and RIVM)
Study of the effects of human exposure to 5G millimetre-wave electromagnetic fields: development of an exposure system, by Mr Benjamin Vatovez (ISSeP), Mrs Maryse Ledent (Sciensano), Prof Marco Spirito (Delft University of Technology), Prof Fulvio Schettino (UCAS), Prof Anna Bogdanova (University of Zurich)
Characterization of a reverberation chamber-based 5G in vitro exposure system: a biological perspective, by Dr Anna Sannino (CNR-IREA), Dr Mariateresa Allocca (CNR-IREA), Dr Stefania Romeo (CNR-IREA), Dr Maria Rosaria Scarfì (CNR-IREA), Dr Gaetano Chirico (UCAS), Prof Fulvio Schettino (UCAS), Dr Olga Zeni (CNR-IREA)
Prof Mats-Olof Mattsson (Sciproof International), Seppe Segers (Sciensano), Anna Sannino (IREA-CNR) and Mariateresa Allocca (IREA-CNR) during one of the poster sessions.
Additionally, more NextGEM partners made oral presentations during the event: Dr Mariateresa Allocca (CNR-IREA) presented Cellular effects of radiofrequency exposure to 1950 MHz, LTE signal, in human neuroblastoma cells in combination with menadione; while her colleague at CNR-IREA, Dr Anna Sannino, presented Characterization of a reverberation chamber-based 5G in vitro exposure system: a biological perspective. The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) took part in three more investigations presented by non-NextGEM partners, too.
NextGEM Posters in the BioEM 2024
Annual meeting of the CLUE-H
The 3rd CLUE-H annual meeting took place during the Conference, too; and it counted with the participation of various members of NextGEM. This project, along with three other EU-funded projects (SeaWave, GOLIAT, and ETAIN), is part of the European Research Cluster on EMF and Health (CLUE-H). This network of over 70 organisations expects to fill the knowledge gaps that exist regarding the impact of wireless technologies on health and the environment.
Great participation of CLUE-H members in the 3rd Annual Meeting in BioEM 2024
Strong presence of NextGEM members in 3 workshops
The Workshop sessions counted with three presentations by NextGEM partners, too:
Dr Nikolaos Petroulakis presented the NextGEM:Next Generation Integrated Sensing and Analytical System for Monitoring and Assessing Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Health, in the Workshop The European Research Cluster on EMF and Health (CLUE-H), a session which introduced NextGEM to all attendees.
Prof Mats-Olof Mattsson and Prof Mytrill Simko (both from Sciproof International) presented the session Are there appropriate exposure/dose metrics for RF-EMF health risk assessment? in the Workshop From exposure to dose measure: what are suitable concepts for public communication and research. “The paper discussed the rationale for biologically relevant dose metrics and discussed if we have such an entity for RF-EMF”, says Prof Mattsson, who adds that “this is a central tenet in the risk assessments performed within NextGEM, and most relevant for the experimental work.”
Dr Sam Aerts and Prof John Bolte (both from THUAS) presented On advancing radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure assessment in mobile-phone networks in the Workshop Breakthroughs in numerical and experimental EMF exposure assessment: The contribution of BIOEM young scientists.
Great satisfaction with BioEM 2024
“It was a significant moment for NextGEM and its partners. The results from NextGEM can undoubtedly be compared with the existing shared findings of other researchers within the community. The variety of NextGEM research directions can cover a wide range of research topics”, says Dr Nikolaos Petroulakis, who feels satisfied with the outcome of the event: “It was a great experience marked by a lot of personal and team effort. Everything went smoothly, and the participants enjoyed the conference and their stay in Chania.”
The same goes for other attendees, like the awarded Seppe Segers: “I really enjoyed getting to know other researchers within the field, and getting a broader scope on the challenges within the field, from exposure measurements to more practical applications in an experimental context”.
“We had some great discussions about the posters and it was great to be there with the NextGEM partners. The session I liked most is the one led by Mats-Olof and Myrtill Simkó”, says Maryse Ledent, scientist at Sciensano; whereas Anna Sannino, research scientist at CNR-IREA and presenter of one of the NextGEM posters, says: “I liked very much the Workshop 1, where I had an overview of all the Horizon Europe funded projects, and the Workshop 3, organized by BioEM young scientists. I found the event was very well organized.”
NextGEM partners during the reception party at the venue
BioEM 2025 will be in Reims
The Conference for BioEM 2025 was announced at the end of the event, and it will be in Reims, France. There, it will take place the 4th CLUE-H Annual Meeting, too. “I am pretty sure that the next period the role of NextGEM and its results will be of core importance in the EMF and Health community”, adds Nikolaos Petroulakis, who expects for the upcoming events “stronger participation by presenting more results and oral presentations by individual researchers from NextGEM.”
Does EMF exposure pose a risk to human health? Exploring three NextGEM studies
NextGEM is an EU-funded project dedicated to exploring whether exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) can affect human health. Partners will achieve this objective through various lines of research, including methodologies and experimental procedures. The goal is to evaluate the effects of RF exposure in multiple frequency bands in in vitro and in vivo biological models. In this framework, three NextGEM partners explain their studies, which will shed light on this question.
Spanish partners ICMAB-CSIC showed us how they work with the nematode C. elegans and why this is useful to assess the biological effects of EMF. These tiny worms can be used as a first step to screen and evaluate materials to drugs and even EMF and to try to elucidate human-scale repercussions. In the following video, Dr. Pol Alonso explained the similarities between this worm’s biology and the human body’s, and how ICMAB works with C.elegans:
In Naples, Italy, the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the National Research Council of Italy (IREA-CNR) presented us the Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory. This lab is fullyequipped for carrying out NextGEM experiments on human cell cultures and explore the effects on cancer-related endpoints due to RF exposure in different frequency ranges. In the framework of a collaboration between IREA-CNR and ICMAB-CSIC, in which theICMAB’s expertise with C. elegansis combined withCNR’s expertise in bioelectromagnetics,the IREA lab will also host the in vivo experiments on this model organism.
In Belgium, Sciensano showed us the premises of the Scientific Institute of Public Service (ISSeP). There, they house an exposure system for EMF-effects tests on humans. Sciensano and ISSeP will undertake short acute exposures (45 minutes long) to a 5G (26.5 GHz) on healthy volunteers. With this, the project will investigate whether or not the controlled exposure could affect various parameters in red blood cells.
Welcoming the IARC, the first steps of NIKH and 3 project meetings: see the latest news of NextGEM
The consortium has produced 8 publications and two public deliverables during the last year
Many things have happened for NextGEM since the spring of 2024: the IARC-WHO has joined NextGEM, the NIKH platform has made its first steps, the project has had a steady number of publications and keeps up to date with the deliverables.
Now, you can see the most important news of the NextGEM Project during this last year on our latest newsletter.
The 10th Course of the Erice International School of Bioelectromagnetism, “one of the best organised in its framework”
NextGEM partners co-organised and participated in this School of Bioelectromagnetism, which celebrated its 20th anniversary
The 10th Course of theErice International School of Bioelectromagnetism was carried out successfully at the beginning of April 2024. The programme occurred at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture in Erice (Sicily, Italy) for the last 20 years. This time, it counted on the participation of some NextGEM partners, including the co-director of the Erice International School of Bioelectromagnetism, Maria Rosaria Scarfi, Research Director at CNR-IREA (now retired). Scarfi considers that “the 2024 course was one of the best organized in the framework of the School“. She adds: “I liked more than one aspect. For example, very friendly atmosphere, high student participation, strict interaction between teachers and students, and organization of group work.”
NextGEM partners pose in front of the project’s poster during the 10th Course of the Erice International School of Bioelectromagnetism. From left to right: Mats-Olof Mattsson (SPi), Maarten Velghe (RIVM) and Maria Rosaria Scarfi (CNR-IREA).
Dr Scarfi was not the only NextGEM partner taking a role at the school. There were also attendees from the Universitätsmedizin Mainz(IMBEI), SciProof International(SPi) and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment(RIVM). Prof. Mats-Olof Mattsson is the CEO of SPi and was an invited lecturer to the course: “The course had a good balance between formal lectures and interactive sessions, and the knowledge presented was on a good academic level”, considers the Professor. He also defines the atmosphere as “very friendly, open, and constructive“.
#EriceSchool: Students worked hard to collect and analyze radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) measurements. Amazing results presented. Congratulations to all students. A 🧵, worth to read 1/6 pic.twitter.com/Q34I7h0TaK
During the course in bioelectromagnetism, attendees were divided into small groups involved in: a) EMF measurements; b) Risk perception/communication; and c) How to judge a scientific paper in epidemiology. Joshua Louis Ziegler is a Research Assistant at IMBEI and collaborates with the NextGEM Project. “I attended this course to broaden my theoretical and practical knowledge on RF-EMF so that it would improve my work within NextGEM”, he says.
21 international participants from 13 institutes in 8 European Countries attended the school, all of them with diverse backgrounds. Prof. Scarfi pointed out that participants graded the course with an 8.9 over 10, showing that they were very satisfied with it. Ziegler spoke in the same line: “The courses were structured very well with plenty of highly interesting practical exercises. I liked it a lot.”
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