原子能机构今日在奥地利塞伯斯多夫原子能机构实验室庆祝一座新的直线加速器设施开业。
<p>（视频来源：A.Silva/原子能机构)</p>
原子能机构今日在奥地利塞伯斯多夫原子能机构实验室庆祝一座新的直线加速器设施开业。该设施将显著提高原子能机构在全球提供剂量测定服务和支持癌症防治的能力。新设施还将有助于加强辐射安全程序，并支持新的辐射治疗实务守则的研究。
“新的直线加速器设施将为剂量学实验室提供剂量学校准、剂量审核、研究和培训方面的重要新能力，代表着实验室向成员国提供服务能力的重大提升，”原子能机构副总干事兼核科学和应用司司长纳贾特·穆赫塔尔在开业庆典期间说。
该实验室的开业标志着以实现维也纳附近塞伯斯多夫实验室现代化为重点的“核应用实验室的改造”项目的一个重要里程碑。
位于奥地利塞伯斯多夫核应用实验室的新直线加速器设施举行开业庆典。（照片来源：D. Calma/原子能机构）
将近50％的癌症患者需要进行辐射治疗。辐射剂量过高会伤害健康组织，而辐射剂量不足则无法有效地清除癌细胞。“剂量测定的质量保证至关重要，有助于确保准确的辐射剂量，”原子能机构人体健康处处长马伊・阿卜杜勒-瓦哈卜说。能力的增强将有助于改善对成员国使用直线加速器的支持，并有利于全球癌症患者。
这台全功能直线加速器是通过2017年与瓦里安医疗系统公司的伙伴关系协定接收的。德国、瑞士、美国和英国政府以及波兰核化学和技术研究所提供了一个安全掩体用于安放直线加速器设施和必要的设备。
该设施将使得能够在塞伯斯多夫提供在直线加速器上进行新的剂量学培训的机会，以及增加研究领域，以确定和建立使用直线加速器进行辐射治疗的最佳实践和应用。满足对剂量学标准、导则和审核日益增长的需求，以确保向患者提供正确的剂量，是原子能机构支持各国开展辐射治疗服务的关键目标之一。
原子能机构是促进全球辐射治疗剂量测定协调一致的中心。“我们已为135个国家的2300个辐射治疗中心提供了支助，”阿卜杜勒-瓦哈卜说。 直线加速器占去年原子能机构提供的653次剂量学审核的80％以上。
德国大使 Gerhard Küntzle代表“塞伯斯多夫核应用实验室的改造项目之友”（支持“核应用实验室的改造”项目的一组国家）两主席发言说：“直线加速器设施的开业标志着改造原子能机构塞伯斯多夫核应用实验室的举措的一个重要里程碑。它提供了一个具体实例，说明对‘核应用实验室的改造’的捐助如何使原子能机构能够帮助成员国改善全世界人民的生活。”
Opening ceremony of the new linear accelerator (linac) facility at the Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)
Close to 50% of cancer patients require radiation treatment. Too much radiation would damage healthy tissue, while too little will not effectively eliminate cancer cells. “Quality assurance in dosimetry is essential and helps ensure accurate radiation doses,” said May Abdel-Wahab, Director of Human Health at the IAEA. The enhanced capabilities will contribute to improving support for the use of linacs in Member States, and will benefit cancer patients globally.
The fully functional linear accelerator (linac) was received under a partnership agreement with Varian Medical Systems Inc. in 2017. The governments of Germany, Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Polish Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology provided a safe bunker to house the facility and necessary equipment for the linac.
The facility will enable new dosimetry training opportunities in Seibersdorf on linac as well as additional areas of research to identify and establish best practices and applications in the use of linacs for radiotherapy. Meeting increasing requests for dosimetry standards, guidance and audits to ensure that the right dose is delivered to patients, is one of the key goals of IAEA support to radiotherapy services in countries.
The IAEA serves as a hub for the harmonization and consistency of radiation therapy dosimetry worldwide. “We have supported 2300 radiotherapy centres in 135 countries,” Abdel-Wahab said. Linacs accounted for over 80% of the 653 dosimetry audits provided by the IAEA last year.
Speaking on behalf of the Co-chairs of Friends for ReNuAL, a group of countries supporting the project, Ambassador Gerhard Küntzle of Germany said: “The opening of the linear accelerator facility marks a major milestone for the initiative to renovate the IAEA’s Nuclear Applications Laboratories at Seibersdorf. It provides a concrete example of how contributions to ReNuAL enable the IAEA to help Member States improve people’s lives around the world.”