Five Working Groups will bring together experts selected for their expertise, experience and representation from each of the specific fields to address the issues involved in:

• Patient needs
• Ethics and societal impact
• Economic impact
• Regulation
• Communication

Objectives of the working groups

Working Group on Patient Needs

To prepare a detailed, current state-of-the-art report on the expectations of patients and issues for them from likely developments in the nanomedical field taking into account ethical, regulatory, social and economic issues with conclusions and recommendations.

Working Group on Ethics and Societal Impact

To prepare a detailed, current state-of-the-art report on the ethical implications and possible societal impacts of likely developments in the nanomedical field taking into account patients’ needs and regulatory and economic issues with conclusions and recommendations.

Working Group on Economic Impact

The Working Group will define facts and questions related to a better assessment of economical impact of nanomedicine and provide a framework to discuss other dimensions (regulation, social and ethics, patients’ expectations, communication).

Working Group on Regulation

To prepare a detailed, current state-of-the-art report on the regulatory implications of likely developments in the nanomedical field taking into account patients’ needs and ethical, social and economic issues.

Working Group on Communication

1. To prepare a detailed, current state-of-the-art report on the public communication implications of likely developments in the nanomedical field taking into account patients’ needs and ethical, regulatory, social and economic issues.
2. To advise on a communication plan to achieve maximum impact for the Round Table and its outcomes and to carry out the communication activities.