Director/Owner, IEH Consulting Ltd.
The project will be delivered by Prof Jason Weeks (BSc PhD CBiol FRSB EurProBiol MIEnvSci CEnv CSci CMIEEM MInstKT) one of the Owner/ Directors of IEH Consulting Ltd (http://www.iehconsulting.co.uk). He has over 30 years’ experience as an ecotoxicologist with extensive experience in the environmental, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. He works on the application of solutions to complex environmental problems and has delivered and managed large scale technically challenging applied research ecotoxicology projects globally. Jason was Professor of Environmental risk analysis at Cranfield University and Veterinary Medicines Programme Director at Cefas; being responsible for the innovation and development of aquaculture therapeutants. Jason is currently involved in an MRC research project on AMR in China and is linked to the NERC CDT on Managing chemical risks in the environment. He is a member of the global expert group for WHO/FAO on environmental concerns for AMR. He is currently working in China, South Africa and Ethiopia. He is currently leadtraining coordinator for the Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) international initiative “PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF AN OVERALL “ONE HEALTH” APPROACH” and has delivered training globally, he is also training coordinator for the BTSF EU initiative to train medics, public health and veterinary experts in the prevention and control of infections and reducing antimicrobial resistance in the EU member states. Jason has managed and delivered many stakeholder communication projects including the BTSF programme but also delivered the first OIE workshop on AMR in aquaculture which took place in Durban, South Africa. See OIE Sub-Regional Workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture: 26 – 28 November 2019 Durban, South Africa https://rr-africa.oie.int/en/trainings/sub-regional-workshop-on-antimicrobial-resistance-in-aquaculture-southern-africa/. Jason is an experienced communicator and a proficient trainer recognised by the EU with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and coach in a multi-cultural environment.
- Internationally recognised expert on ecological and environmental chemical risk assessment, ecotoxicology and environmental toxicology.
- Accredited CPD trainer and Facilitator, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
- Former Chief Scientist of the UK Water Research Centre, with particular experience in understanding the fate, effects and ecotoxicity of chemicals relating to industrial processing, mining, contaminated land, pharmaceuticals and agricultural pollution to biota.
- Expert for the design and execution of projects on behalf of organisations including DFID, WHO, World Bank, FSA, NERC, EFSA, FAO, OIE, and the UN.
- Frequent invited expert presenting at national and international workshops, and specialist groups for national and international audiences.
- Published in excess of 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers on a broad range of subject areas.
- Worked on behalf of organisations such as Defra, ESF, WHO, UNEP, NATO, UN, OIE, FAO, IPCC, UNIDO, World Bank, DFID, and WWF.
- Scientific advisor to UNIDO, OIE, FAO/WHO and the World Bank.
- Global advisor on environmental aspects of AMR to the FAO/WHO.
- Former UK-Co-opted member of the European Medicines Agency CVMP
- Chaired the Environmental Risk Assessment Working Party across the member states.
- Membership of the Scientific Committee of EFSA 2017 – EFSA/E/2017/01.
- Appointed to reserve list of Health and Environmental Risks (SCHEER) and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) as external expert.
- Member of the NERC’s Strategic Programme Advisory Group from 2017 then transitioned to the NERC NAN.
- Ministerial appointment as independent member of the board of veterinary products committee (VPC) of the VMD.
- Often represented the UK at the EC Standing Committee meetings for Veterinary medicines.
Role in the Project
Jason will provide input and lead the environmental risk elements of WP 5 (WP5; Risk management and policyLeads Wellington (UK) and Taneja (I)) ensuring the quality and assurance of the risk assessments produced. He will develop recommendations for environmental monitoring guidelines to inform a risk assessment protocol with the Indian project partners. This will be achieved through the development of an environmental exposure risk model. The work will be integrated across all project disciplines in order to address the key aim above. The project will enable understanding of the many impacts of antimicrobial manufacturing waste pollution and underpin options for the future management of such antimicrobial wastes and their disposal.
Methodology
- Risk assessment protocols will provide guidance to relevant authorities.
- Data gathered throughout by project partners will be used to complete a risk assessment to determine the environmental and human health risks.
- The risk assessment will contain the following information:
- Overview of the hazard characterisation
- Estimate of the level of risk
- Risk mitigation and management recommendations
- A risk assessment will be used to develop recommendations for environmental monitoring guidelines
- To develop better understanding of the most effective mitigation strategies for use by policymakers and regulators.
