Open AccessGuidance on the assessment of the biological relevance of data in scientific assessments
Author(s) -
Hardy Anthony,
Benford Diane,
Halldorsson Thorhallur,
Jeger Michael John,
Knutsen Helle Katrine,
More Simon,
Naegeli Hanspeter,
Noteborn Hubert,
Ockleford Colin,
Ricci Antonia,
Rychen Guido,
Schlatter Josef R,
Silano Vittorio,
Solecki Roland,
Turck Dominique,
Younes Maged,
Bresson JeanLouis,
Griffin John,
Hougaard Benekou Susanne,
van Loveren Henk,
Luttik Robert,
Messean Antoine,
Penninks André,
Ru Giuseppe,
Stegeman Jan Arend,
van der Werf Wopke,
Westendorf Johannes,
Woutersen Rudolf Antonius,
Barizzone Fulvio,
Bottex Bernard,
Lanzoni Anna,
Georgiadis Nikolaos,
Alexander Jan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
efsa journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.076
H-Index - 97
ISSN - 1831-4732
DOI - 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4970
Subject(s) - relevance (law) , context (archaeology) , identification (biology) , process (computing) , data collection , computer science , biology , political science , mathematics , paleontology , law , operating system , statistics , botany
EFSA requested its Scientific Committee to prepare a guidance document providing generic issues and criteria to consider biological relevance, particularly when deciding on whether an observed effect is of biological relevance, i.e. is adverse (or shows a beneficial health effect) or not. The guidance document provides a general framework for establishing the biological relevance of observations at various stages of the assessment. Biological relevance is considered at three main stages related to the process of dealing with evidence: Development of the assessment strategy. In this context, specification of agents, effects, subjects and conditions in relation to the assessment question(s): Collection and extraction of data; Appraisal and integration of the relevance of the agents, subjects, effects and conditions, i.e. reviewing dimensions of biological relevance for each data set. A decision tree is developed to assist in the collection, identification and appraisal of relevant data for a given specific assessment question to be answered.