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Epidemiology’s Policy
Voice Gaining New Members
The
International Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology
(IJPC-SE), described as the “policy voice for epidemiological
societies”, has so far added six new members in 2015. There is “clear
interest” in joining a group which is seeking to be “thoughtful at the
nexus of research and policy”, according to Colin Soskolne,
professor emeritus at the University of Alberta and current chair of
the IJPC-SE.
Over the past few months, the Royal Society of Public
Health, the International Society for Children's Health and the
Environment, the Italian Association of Epidemiology, the German
Society for Epidemiology, the Japan Epidemiological Association, and
the Romanian Society of Epidemiology have been added to the ranks of
member societies/associations. Also known as the Joint Policy
Committee (JPC), it now stands at 19 member organizations. Perhaps the
most outstanding accomplishment of the group so far has been its
position statement on asbestos launched in 2012 and which has been
widely endorsed all over the world.
According to Kathleen Ruff, an asbestos activist
who contributed to the development of the statement,
The JPC
Position Statement on Asbestos was an important act of collaboration
and leadership by societies of epidemiology in calling for national
and international policy to be based on the scientific evidence. While
the asbestos industry spends millions of dollars on marketing and
political lobbying, they are losing the battle of credibility, thanks
to organizations
such as the IJPC-SE speaking up to defend epidemiologic evidence and
public health policy. More organizations have since joined the IJPC-SE,
in part, I believe, because they see that the IJPC-SE is playing a
positive and meaningful role in serving the public good.”
Challenges
The JPC has faced many organizational challenges since
its inception in 2006 as a forum for discussing policy aspects of
epidemiological research and practice, not the least of which is
finding a convenient time for meetings by conference call in which
Society representatives in different time zones can participate.
Various policy documents have been approved through an inclusive
iterative process. In July, the JPC anticipates registration in the
USA as a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Its website and core
structure are foundational for its further development and growth (see
www.ijpc-se.org), according to Soskolne.
However, agreement about the value and mission of the
IJPC-SE is apparently not universal. The Society for Epidemiologic
Research, the Society for Pediatric Epidemiology Research, and the
American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention have
recently withdrawn their membership, citing a lack of volunteers to
represent the societies on the Joint Committee.
Current Initiative
A current initiative of the JPC is to create a position
statement on conflict-of-interest and disclosure. The need to address
conflict-of-interest and disclosure issues more forthrightly was
brought about by high-profile failures of epidemiologists to fulfill
norms and expectations in these areas. According to the Committee, “We
bring this topic forward to encourage discussion with a view to
thoughtful consideration about what, if anything, we should, can
and/or need to do in order to conform to ethical norms that will
advance epidemiology at the research-policy interface.” This statement
is being eagerly anticipated by several IJPC-SE member-organizations
as a value-added benefit of membership Soskolne told the Monitor.
Readers who share the Committee’s beliefs about the importance of
being actively involved at the interface of research and policy or
action are encouraged to join the Committee by bringing particular
expertise and/or encouraging their national or international specialty
epidemiology societies to seek membership in the IJPC-SE. According to
Soskolne, several membership categories have been created to
accommodate different levels of interest and engagement (see pages 5-7
in the Founding Bylaws at:
https://tinyurl.com/pav8wgs
To get more information, contact Colin Soskolne at
colin.soskolne@ualberta.ca
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