Rotterdam study extended with liver and skin research

To study risk factors for liver disorders and skin conditions in the Erasmus Rotterdam Health Research (ERGO, also called ‘Rotterdam-study’) the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam has requested a license because of the Population Screening Act (WBO). The Rotterdam study is a long-term epidemiologic population study, of which some parts also concern the WBO for which a license can be necessary. On 16 November 2011 the Committee Population Screening of the Health Council gave a positive recommendation to the Minister of Public Health, Well-Being and Sport (VWS).

Liver disorders can be associated with liver cancer, but the Committee judged that the association is unclear and that in the study the chance of liver cancer is too small to be called a relevant risk in this population. Therefore for this part no license is required.

Skin cancer is a very frequent condition. Therefore a license is required for the study into risk factors for skin disorders, such as skin cancer. In judging the legal criteria of the WBO the committee focused especially on the benefits and risk and the provided information about benefits and risks. The committee sees no reasons to refuse the license; the risk for the participants is very small and they are well informed about these risks.