'Creating a sustainable network in biological dosimetry that involves a large number of experienced laboratories throughout the EU will significantly improve the accident and emergency response capabilities in case of a large-scale radiological emergency. A well organised cooperated action involving EU laboratories will offer the only chance for a fast and trustworthy dose assessment urgently needed in an emergency situation. The goal of RENEB is to establish a sustainable European network in biological dosimetry involving 23 organisations from 16 countries identified by the TENEB survey, that will guarantee highest efficiency in processing and scoring of biological samples for fast, reliable results implemented in the EU emergency management. This goal will be achieved through 5 tasks: 1) To create an operational basis of the network, based on coordination of the existing reliable and proven methods in biological dosimetry. 2) To expand and improve the network implementing appropriate new, molecular biology methods and integrating new partners. 3) To assure high quality standards by education and training activities of members and interested non-members. Here, special focus will be placed on quality assurance and management regarding the performed assays and involved laboratories. 4) To develop an operational structure of the network including contacts to national first responders, a well organised transnational infrastructure to facilitate cross-border transport of human biological samples, a long term funding strategy and to prepare an agenda to transform RENEB into a legal organisation. 5) To guarantee dissemination of knowledge by providing access to internal and external communication platforms and databases and close cooperation with national and global emergency preparedness systems and organisations. All of these activities are strictly complementary to on-going projects in the EU Security Research Programme, specifically to MULTIBIODOSE and to EURADOS.'