Under the Australian Government's Electromagnetic Energy Program, ARPANSA provides funding to support priority research on radio waves and health.
ARPANSA is pleased to announce its first successful project under the new EME Program Research Framework.
'We are delighted to be working with RMIT and the Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR) team to progress their research proposal investigating the impact of non-ionising radiation on cell permeability', said Assoc Prof Sarah Loughran, EME Program Director at ARPANSA.
'This study fills a gap in current research through its investigation of potential non-thermal effects of higher frequency radio waves and aims to develop an understanding of the exposure level at which non-thermal effects may be observed.'
The project will be led by RMIT University Distinguished Professor Elena Ivanova and was selected from a competitive process following a call for proposals in late 2021.
'We are very pleased to be supported by ARPANSA on this important research', said Prof Ivanova, School of Science, RMIT University.
'While there is a strong scientific literature pertaining to older mobile telecommunications systems, there is comparatively little on the millimetre wave frequencies planned for future 5G systems', said Prof Ivanova.
'This knowledge is crucial given the strong societal concern about the 5G roll-out.'
This research is funded as the first 'major project' under ARPANSA's new EME Program Research Framework, which provides opportunities for universities, hospitals and medical research institutes to access funding and support to address priority areas of EME and health research.
'This study, and the research being conducted under the EME program more broadly, provides valuable evidence to underpin our work in protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation', said Assoc Prof Loughran.
'This is the first of many studies that will help further build the international body of knowledge on this important topic'.
RMIT has secured $140,000 from ARPANSA to undertake this research, which is expected to be completed by 2024.
