Five categories of participant can be present at Monograph
meetings.
(a) The Working Group is responsible for the critical
reviews and evaluations that are developed during the
meeting. The tasks of Working Group Members are: (i) to
ascertain that all appropriate data have been collected;
(ii) to select the data relevant for the evaluation on
the basis of scientific merit; (iii) to prepare accurate
summaries of the data to enable the reader to follow the
reasoning of the Working Group; (iv) to evaluate the results
of epidemiological and experimental studies on cancer;
(v) to evaluate data relevant to the understanding of
mechanisms of carcinogenesis; and (vi) to make an overall
evaluation of the carcinogenicity of the exposure to humans.
Working Group Members generally have published significant
research related to the carcinogenicity of the agents
being reviewed, and IARC uses literature searches to identify
most experts. Working Group Members are selected on the
basis of (a) knowledge and experience and (b) absence
of real or apparent conflicts of interests. Consideration
is also given to demographic diversity and balance of
scientific findings and views.
(b) Invited Specialists are experts who also have critical
knowledge and experience but have a real or apparent conflict
of interests. These experts are invited when necessary
to assist in the Working Group by contributing their unique
knowledge and experience during subgroup and plenary discussions.
They may also contribute text on non-influential issues
in the section on exposure, such as a general description
of data on production and use (see Part
B, Section 1). Invited Specialists do not serve as
meeting chair or subgroup chair, draft text that pertains
to the description or interpretation of cancer data, or
participate in the evaluations.
(c) Representatives of national and international health
agencies often attend meetings because their agencies
sponsor the programme or are interested in the subject
of a meeting. Representatives do not serve as meeting
chair or subgroup chair, draft any part of a Monograph,
or participate in the evaluations.
(d) Observers with relevant scientific credentials may
be admitted to a meeting by IARC in limited numbers. Attention
will be given to achieving a balance of Observers from
constituencies with differing perspectives. They are invited
to observe the meeting and should not attempt to influence
it. Observers do not serve as meeting chair or subgroup
chair, draft any part of a Monograph, or participate
in the evaluations. At the meeting, the meeting chair
and subgroup chairs may grant Observers an opportunity
to speak, generally after they have observed a discussion.
Observers agree to respect the Guidelines
for Observers at IARC Monographs meetings (available
at http://monographs.iarc.fr).
(e) The IARC Secretariat consists of scientists who are
designated by IARC and who have relevant expertise. They
serve as rapporteurs and participate in all discussions.
When requested by the meeting chair or subgroup chair,
they may also draft text or prepare tables and analyses.
Before an invitation is extended, each potential participant,
including the IARC Secretariat, completes the WHO Declaration
of Interests to report financial interests, employment
and consulting, and individual and institutional research
support related to the subject of the meeting. IARC assesses
these interests to determine whether there is a conflict
that warrants some limitation on participation. The declarations
are updated and reviewed again at the opening of the meeting.
Interests related to the subject of the meeting are disclosed
to the meeting participants and in the published volume
(Cogliano et al., 2004).
The names and principal affiliations of participants
are available on the Monographs programme website (http://monographs.iarc.fr)
approximately two months before each meeting. It is not
acceptable for Observers or third parties to contact other
participants before a meeting or to lobby them at any
time. Meeting participants are asked to report all such
contacts to IARC (Cogliano et al., 2005).
All participants are listed, with their principal affiliations,
at the beginning of each volume. Each participant who
is a Member of a Working Group serves as an individual
scientist and not as a representative of any organization,
government or industry.
Posted 23 January 2006
