The result of collaboration between 126 international experts, including 9 from IRSN, the Guide to Radiobiology is now available from Springer. This freely accessible work offers a comprehensive perspective on radiobiology and related disciplines.

Initiated during the covid-19 pandemic, this guide focuses on various aspects of radiobiology. Its aim is to provide a better understanding of the effects of exposure to ionising radiation at the cellular and molecular levels, thereby assessing their impact on health.

A comprehensive, educational tool

Aimed at a wide audience, this guide is positioned as an essential learning resource, providing a solid foundation for students, scientists and medical staff interested in radiobiology. As a teaching tool, it is accompanied by educational material designed to facilitate understanding of the complex concepts involved in this constantly evolving discipline.

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On the development of standards and the Institute's contribution, read the dossier (p.8-13) in Repères (FR)

On 1 February 2024, the Director General signed an agreement with the IAEA in Vienna recognising IRSN as a Collaborating Centre in the fight against cancer.  This Centre is part of the IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative. It aims to promote the safe use of ionising radiation (IR) in the medical field for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer (radiotherapy), particularly in emerging countries.

This agreement commits IRSN for three years (2024-2027). It will mobilise around twenty experts from the Institute in four areas:

• support for awareness-raising and training in the use of IR in the medical field

• assistance in drafting IAEA guides

• research into radiation protection and medical physics

• risk perception and communication on the risks associated with the use of IR in the medical field

This commitment is a further contribution by IRSN to the IAEA and the fight against cancer.

Following IRSN's designation as an IAEA Collaborating Centre (ICC) in 2021, in the field of medical management of radiological and nuclear emergencies, this new agreement represents further recognition of IRSN's expertise on the international scene and an additional contribution by IRSN to the IAEA's work in the fight against cancer.

For more information

• IRSN, a collaborating centre, visits the WHO in Geneva

Launched in June 2022 as part of EU research and innovation framework program Horizon Europe/EURATOM, the European research partnership Pianoforte aims to improve knowledge and promote innovation in the field of radiation protection on behalf of better protection of the public, patients, workers and the environment in all scenarios of exposure to ionizing radiation. 

Coordinated by IRSN, the Pianoforte partnership brings together 58 partners representing 22 countries of the European Union as well as the United Kingdom and Norway. 

The year 2023 saw the first major milestone of the partnership with the launch of Pianoforte's 1st open call for proposals, focused on three main topics:

• Topic 1: Developing a knowledge base for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis of ionising radiation-induced cancer to improve risk assessment.
• Topic 2: Individualised diagnostic as well as therapeutic procedures with regard to optimisation of the benefit/risk ratio.
• Topic 3: Development of risk assessment and risk management approaches and technological capabilities to cope with scenarios arising from threats due to war or armed conflicts situations or natural disasters taking into consideration social, ethical, and legal issues.

24 research project proposals were received for the call, representing more than 100 different organizations. After an evaluation process by a review panel of international experts, the 9 winning projects were approved on December 6th, 2023, and presented during a meeting held in Budapest (Hungary). Throughout the duration of the projects, IRSN will work alongside the coordinators of the selected projects to provide them with the assistance they need to ensure that they run smoothly. 

Finally, the coming year promises to be a busy one, with the launch of the second call for projects at the end of the first quarter of 2024. IRSN, in its role as coordinator and drawing on the experience gained from the first call for tenders, will be on hand to make this one a success.
 

More information

• Pianoforte partnership
• Pianoforte partnership: 2023 Year-in-review
• Pianoforte Call 2023: selected projects presentation 

On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, an IRSN delegation led by Director General Jean-Christophe Niel travelled to Geneva (Switzerland) for talks with the World Health Organization (WHO).

As a WHO collaborating centre, IRSN presented an overview of its activities in support of the WHO. These activities focus on the following 4 areas:

1. nuclear accidents and radiological crises 
2. mental health (indirect health impact of exposure to ionising radiation)
3. medical applications of ionising radiation
4. assessment of the risks associated with exposure to ionising radiation

For its part, the WHO presented the forthcoming actions it plans to carry out in these 4 areas, for which IRSN is expected to provide support.

The meeting was followed by a visit to the WHO crisis centre. Among other things, it provided an overview of the WHO's health response to the war in Ukraine.

IRSN, a collaborating centre since 2010, wishes to pursue this relationship with the WHO to continue to contribute to the advancement of radiation protection, provide technical support in the event of a radiological or nuclear emergency, and share knowledge about the medical and health consequences of radiological and nuclear risks.

For more information

• About WHO: Collaborating centres