Multi-Stakeholder Processes and Innovation Systems towards Science for impact

Multi_stakeholder processes (MSPs) have become an important phenomena in the work of many of the Science Groups and knowledge units of Wageningen UR. To realise ‘science for impact’ it is increasingly recognized that stakeholder engagement is a critical element. Much remains to be understood about their role and effectiveness in a wider context of politics, governance and societal change. There is clearly value to be gained from the efforts of Wageningen UR wide sharing and critical reflection processes. The CD&IC programme, Wageningen International, hosted a Critical Reflection Day, building on existing and past initiatives such as Own experiences, the Transition lab and deepening of Communities of Practice of action learning and ‘Telen met Toekomst’. The Critical Reflection Day was part of the three_week international course on 'Facilitating Multi_stakeholder Processes and Social Learning' attended by some 30 participants from all over the world. They facilitated and actively took part in the Critical Reflection Da

Course report: Climate change adaptation in agriculture and natural resource management - Integrating climate change in policy making and programming for sustainable development

At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) in the Netherlands, Wageningen UR1 has initiated a support programme for climate change adaptation in Eastern Africa in 2008. In partnership with ASARECA2, IUCN – EARO3 and RUFORUM4 a scoping workshop and follow-up were organised. The focus was on capacities needed to better integrated climate change adaptation responses into agricultural, rural development and natural resources policy processes. The initiative led, among others, to the development of a new training course in 2009, implemented by the partnership, in collaboration with HoA-REC5 at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. The regional training on Climate Change Adaptation in agriculture and NRM took place from 15 to 26 June 2009 in Addis Ababa. It was attended by 26 participants from Ethiopia (20), Uganda (3), Kenya (2) and Tanzania (1). Participants were drawn from universities, agricultural research institutes, non-governmental organisations and government departments. The course was coordinated and facilitated by a team from HoA-REC and Wageningen UR, complemented by presenters and lecturers from various universities and institutes, such as Prof. Richard Odingo (University of Nairobi), Dr. Jan Verhagen (Wageningen UR), Dr. Gebru Jember (National Meteorological Agency, Ethiopia), and Dr. Lulseged Tamene (Addis Ababa University)

Prolonged intraperitoneal infusion of 5-fluorouracil using a novel carrier solution.

A novel peritoneal carrier solution, Icodextrin 20 (7.5%), has allowed exploration of prolonged, intraperitoneal (i.p.) infusion of the cytotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). A phase I and pharmacokinetic study was performed to determine the toxicities and maximum tolerated dose of prolonged and continuous intraperitoneal 5-FU in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Seventeen patients were entered into this study. Each patient had a Tenckhoff catheter placed into the peritoneal cavity under general anaesthetic. After initial flushing and gradual increase in exchange volumes with Icodextrin 20, 5-FU was administered daily from Monday to Friday, 50% as a bolus in the exchange bag and 50% in an elastomeric infusor device delivering continuous 5-FU to the peritoneal cavity at 2 ml h-1. Treatment was continued for 12 weeks or until intolerable toxicity developed. Abdominal pain and infective peritonitis proved to be the main dose-limiting toxicities. Initial problems with infective peritonitis were overcome by redesign of the delivery system, and it proved possible to deliver 300 mg m-2 5-FU daily (5 days per week) for 12 weeks. Pharmacokinetic studies showed i.p. steady-state 5-FU concentrations (mean 47 500 ng ml-1) that were > 1000-fold higher than systemic venous levels (mean 30 ng ml-1)

Pseudobudding: ruptured glands do not represent true tumor buds

Tumor budding (TB) is a strong biomarker of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer and other solid cancers. TB is defined as isolated single cancer cells or clusters of up to four cancer cells at the invasive tumor front. In areas with a large inflammatory response at the invasive front, single cells and cell clusters surrounding fragmented glands are observed appearing like TB. Occurrence of these small groups is referred to as pseudobudding (PsB), which arises due to external influences such as inflammation and glandular disruption. Using a combination of orthogonal approaches, we show that there are clear biological differences between TB and PsB. TB is representative of active invasion by presenting features of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and exhibiting increased deposition of extracellular matrix within the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), whereas PsB represents a reactive response to heavy inflammation where increased levels of granulocytes within the surrounding TME are observed. Our study provides evidence that areas with a strong inflammatory reaction should be avoided in the routine diagnostic assessment of TB

ESC Joint Working Groups on Cardiovascular Surgery and the Cellular Biology of the Heart Position Paper: Perioperative myocardial injury and infarction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

International audienc

Science and policy interfaces in multi-stakeholder processes: Exploring how multi-stakeholder processes use science for policy development and innovation within the life sciences

Multi-stakeholder processes (MSPs) have become important phenomena in the work of many of the Science Groups and knowledge units of Wageningen UR. Many MSPs are a vehicle for social and technological change and innovation. MSP concepts are linked with the ideas of social learning, transition management and innovation systems that are also related to the goal of more effectively linking research, policy and practice as promoted by Wageningen UR. While MSPs are increasingly seen as a critical way of dealing with complex, high risk and high consequence societal problems, such as climate change, overcoming endemic poverty or reducing pollution levels, they are not a ‘silver bullet’ nor a panacea. Much remains to be understood about their role and effectiveness in a wider context of politics, governance and societal change. MSPs are often used for policy development or policy implementation. Similarly, research is used to inform policy development or policy outcomes. Hence, in many MSPs there is a role for research in policy development. Key questions about the research – policy interface that will be addressed in the reflection day on MSPs are: • How is (scientific) research brought into MSPs as to strengthen evidence-based policy and innovation? • What is the role of researchers in MSPs? • Who decides on a research agenda, and who owns research outcomes? • How can existing research be used to improve MSPs and to promote solutions that benefit vulnerable groups? There is clearly value to be gained from the efforts of Wageningen UR wide sharing and critical reflection processes. The CD&IC programme, Wageningen International, hosted this Interactive Reflection Day, following a successful reflection day on MSPs in Science for Impact in September 2009. The Interactive Reflection Day was part of the three-week international course on 'Facilitating Multi-stakeholder Processes and Social Learning' attended by some 30 participants from all over the world. They facilitated and actively took part in the Interactive Reflection Day, coached by the MSP facilitators Jouwert van Geene and Karèn Verhoosel

Linking training, research and policy advice: capacity building for adaptation to climate change in East Africa

It is increasingly acknowledged that adapting to climate change is important in developing countries, where the majority of people depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods, and their capacity to adapt to change is low. These people are especially vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability was addressed together with options to adapt in a context of sustainable development at a two-week training course on climate adaptation. The course was developed and organised by a group of scientists from Wageningen UR with partners in East Africa. In addition to the training course, the team worked on the set-up of a collaborative process with partners from the region and policy advice, all with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The development of the training course is the focus of this chapter. The course assisted in bringing researchers, policymakers and practitioners together to learn about climate change adaptation in agriculture and natural resources management. The development of a conceptual framework as a joint understanding of climate change adaptation was an important element in the learning process

The Change Alliance - Launch Event 2-3 December 2009 - Consolidated notes

The Change Alliance launch event was officially opened by Hettie Walters (ICCO and the chair woman of the foundation group of the Change Alliance) and Jim Woodhill (Wageningen UR – Centre for Development Innovation): “We are facing significant challenges like climate change, widespread poverty, limited access to water. How can we cope with these in more democratic and cooperative ways? There is an increasing interest for multistakeholder processes: bringing people together to cooperate effectively to address issues at hand. This increase raises some questions: How well do these processes work? Do they address deeper challenges? Do they truly and effectively inspire change?” In this light, the following objectives were set for the launch event of the Change Alliance: 1. Shape the future direction of alliance 2. Establish learning and action agenda: what are the big questions we face, which support do we need, what would enable us to become better? 3. Map actors, initiatives & concepts: define the boundaries of the initiative 4. Explore principles for engagement: define the core principles to move forward 5. Next steps: define what we need to d

The Change Alliance - Launch Event 2-3 December 2009 - Consolidated notes

The Change Alliance launch event was officially opened by Hettie Walters (ICCO and the chair woman of the foundation group of the Change Alliance) and Jim Woodhill (Wageningen UR – Centre for Development Innovation): “We are facing significant challenges like climate change, widespread poverty, limited access to water. How can we cope with these in more democratic and cooperative ways? There is an increasing interest for multistakeholder processes: bringing people together to cooperate effectively to address issues at hand. This increase raises some questions: How well do these processes work? Do they address deeper challenges? Do they truly and effectively inspire change?” In this light, the following objectives were set for the launch event of the Change Alliance: 1. Shape the future direction of alliance 2. Establish learning and action agenda: what are the big questions we face, which support do we need, what would enable us to become better? 3. Map actors, initiatives & concepts: define the boundaries of the initiative 4. Explore principles for engagement: define the core principles to move forward 5. Next steps: define what we need to d