Currently, in LMI-countries, there is a strong increment in the application of nuclear technologies, especially in the fields of electrical power/energy management, in the field of research, and in human health. For these countries, this implies an increase in nuclear power plants, more nuclear research facilities and more radiation facilities for medicine (radiation oncology and radiation diagnostics). In spite of strict regulations and safety measures, radiation accidents or unplanned radiation exposures may occur. Biological dosimetry implies different cytogentic assays and is used to estimate the absorbed dose in the exposed individual. Biodosimetry plays an important role in the triage and medical management of radiological casualties. The availability of national and regional biodosimetry programmes / laboratories will be very useful not only in the case of a nuclear disaster but also for radiation workers in environments with a certain radiation risk and for the general public. The major aim is to increase the preparedness of biological dosimetry laboratories / institutes in IAEA Member States (MSs) to react on radiation / nuclear accidents. The rationales are: to set up suitable standards to monitor individuals exposed to radiation, to update the existing technology, introduce “state of the art” technology and to initiate national, regional and international networks on biological dosimetry that can be extremely useful in scenarios of mass casualties.
The major aim of the project is to increase the preparedness of biological dosimetry laboratories / institutes in IAEA-MSs to react on radiation / nuclear accidents nationally and in the region.
To complement and to add to already existing IAEA and WHO activities in this field; RANET (IAEA-Incidence and Emergency Unit, Nuclear safety); BiodoseNet (WHO).
To implement adequate technical information and expertise in LMI-countries to perform biological dosimetry and human risk assessment (i.e. in scenarios of environmental, occupational, clinical and accidental exposures to radiation of different qualities at low and high dose levels).
To initiate and give advice on different relevant research programs in order to enhance the current and future research programs to assess precisely the effect of ionizing radiations and human risk.
To monitor individuals exposed to radiation environmentally, occupationally, clinically as well as accidentally.
To unify/harmonize technically cytogenetic assays that are applicable for human biological dosimetry among different laboratories in the MSs, and by initiating different networks (national and international collaborations).
To update conventional biological assays and to implement state of the art technology in research centres having expertise on applying different types of cytogenetic assays for biological dosimetry immediately and/or retrospectively following (controlled and uncontrolled) exposure to radiation of different qualities.
The CRP had a major impact both on MSs and collaborating international organisations. The project straightened and harmonised biodosimetric services worldwide. It was performed in in a parallel to a number of TC capacity building national Biodosimetry projects including building biodosimetry lab in Lithuania (LIT6005, 2012-2015), which was featured as success story and Establishing Ukrainian Centre of Competence in biological dosimetry (UKR9034, 2016-2017). I served as a TO the first one and advised on the second. The CRP was a success, special issue of Genomic Integrity journal, consisted of 18 papers from participants and one editorial. This project led to a new CRP on Clinical application of Biodosimetry, which just started (2017-2021) and became very popular among MSs.
The project is highly relevant to the project objectives and has significant Nuclear Component since it dealing with application biological radiation dosimetry methods to radiation emergencies,