IAEA Launches New Radiobiology E-Learning Initiative to Support Training Programmes

The IAEA has launched a new e-learning course as an internactive training tool to bridge knowledge gaps on clinical radiobiology, a key pre-requisite for treating cancer with radiation. Released during an IAEA webinar which brought together over 540 participants from around the world, this resource can augment training programmes for radiation oncologists and other professionals from all regions, especially those in low- and middle-income countries.

As a field of study, radiation biology aims to understand ionizing radiation's effects at the cellular and molecular level to determine any impacts on health. When ionizing radiation is used to diagnose or to treat patients, there are physical and chemical interactions that can manifest as biological effects. How cells and tissues react to ionizing radiation is notably influenced by their radiosensitivity and their abilities to repair radiation-related damage; reoxygenate (in the case of tumour cells, becoming more susceptible to radiation damage); repopulate (tumour cells continuing to proliferate); redistribute; and reactivate the immune response - the six R's of radiobiology.

"Understanding radiation's effects, including cellular responses, allows for the delivery of more precise radiotherapy doses, maximising tumour control while minimizing harm to surrounding tissues," explained Sandra Ndarukwa, Associate Education Officer (Radiation Oncology) in the IAEA's Division of Human Health. "By exploiting the differences in radiosensitivity between tumour and normal cells, treatments can be designed for optimal outcomes."

Yet despite its importance, there remains a scarcity of radiobiology specialists, research and training programmes - especially as the demand for advanced radiotherapy techniques continues to grow from an increasing global cancer burden. "Radiobiology training is often seen as secondary to clinical radiation oncology, leaving gaps in fundamental knowledge," noted Soehartati Gondhowiardjo, Radiation Oncologist and Senior Consultant at Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia. "Limited access to high-end radiobiology research facilities and the lack of a standardized curriculum structure, which creates inconsistencies in how radiobiology is taught, hinder the ability of radiation oncologists and trainees to fully integrate cutting-edge biological insights into their practice."

Within Africa for example, there are data gaps on the radiobiology of the region's tumours. "Fewer than 20 papers have been published from West Africa in the last decade," said Papa Macoumba Gaye, a Radiation Oncologist at Dalal Jamm Hospital in Senegal. "To advance research into the biological mechanisms of radiation-induced damage, build our own evidence base and tailor treatments to meet the needs of thousands of patients in our region, we need dedicated human resources."

To address these needs, the IAEA has previously supported countries around the world by organizing several in-person teaching courses; producing a distance-learning course (titled "Applied Sciences of Oncology"); and publishing a handbook for teachers and students. Its newly launched "Basic Clinical Radiobiology" e-learning course builds on this work by covering all fundamental principles of radiation biology relevant to clinical practice.

Radiation oncologists can learn about the science behind radiation's interactions with biological matter; radiation-induced damage and repair; cell death and survival; as well as the effects of radiation therapy fractionation (dividing the total radiation dose into multiple smaller doses) on the treatment efficacy. Interested participants can freely access the course's content on demand; study at their own pace; and review it repeatedly - all through the IAEA's Human Health Campus.

This new resource notably serves as a supplement to - and not a substitute for - radiobiology training programmes. Within a week of its official release, more than 820 health professionals worldwide have already accessed the course and are already engaging with its content.

"The recent IAEA-led Lancet Oncology Commission on Radiotherapy and Theranostics showed that the 2022 cancer workforce must expand by 60 percent to meet the cancer demands of 2050," pointed out May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the IAEA's Division of Human Health and one of the Commission's leads. "As a timely tool to help bring a well-trained workforce online, this important initiative can facilitate the translation of radiobiology principles into clinical practice."