Interested contributors have until 2 May 2025 to submit abstracts for scientific posters for the IAEA's International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine - X Ray Vision.
The conference, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, will extend on the achievements of previous IAEA conferences on the topic held in 2012 and 2017 focusing on the radiation protection and safety of patients and health professionals undergoing or using radiation to diagnose and treat health conditions. It will be held from 8 to 12 December 2025 at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
The latest research shows that about 4.2 billion medical radiological examinations are performed each year, and this number continues to grow: for example, more computed tomography (CT) scanners are being installed in clinics around the world to replace conventional X ray procedures, while in nuclear medicine therapy, there is increasing use of radionuclides for treating metastatic cancer cells. In addition, an estimated 6.2 million courses of radiation therapy treatment are performed each year. New medical radiation technology and procedures continue to be developed.
"The conference will review significant global developments in the radiation protection of patients and health professionals taking into account current trends and advances in medical radiation technology and procedures," said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety.
"By bringing together experts in the field we aim to identify future challenges and opportunities so that we can all benefit from the latest technologies in the safest possible way," added Vandenhove.
Vision for the future
The theme of the conference, 'X ray vision', represents the techniques developed long ago to see inside the human body using ionizing radiation. It also represents the opportunity for medical experts to 'look into' the future by examining the current and potential upcoming trends and challenges, to enable them to formulate a vision to further enhance global radiation protection of patients and medical workers against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
"The conference in 2012 led to the development of the decade-long Bonn Call for Action on strengthening radiation protection in medicine," explained Ola Holmberg, Head of the IAEA Radiation Protection of Patients Unit, adding that, "at this conference we aim to assess the progress achieved and identify challenges that will help in formulating a robust strategy for the next decade."
Improving radiation protection in healthcare
Exchanges will include the discussion of new trends in medical uses of radiation, such as using artificial intelligence in medical imaging and therapy, which can accelerate research to reduce patient radiation doses and calls for quality assurance programmes, interdisciplinary collaboration, and consideration of ethics, patient privacy and data security. Participants will also discuss ways to help raise the voices of patients in relation to their own healthcare plan.
The conference will provide a platform for enhanced networking opportunities among health professionals, including physicians practising in radiological imaging, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, referring medical practitioners, medical physicists, medical radiation technologists and regulatory authorities.
Contributors interested in submitting a poster for the conference can find the topics of interest here, which includes areas such as the justification for the use of radiation in medicine, radiation protection of patients and staff in various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and in interventional procedures, learning from unintended and accidental exposures in medicine, and strengthening radiation safety culture in healthcare.
