The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to hold the International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine – X Ray Vision from December 8 to 12, 2025, at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The event, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, builds on the work of previous IAEA conferences on the topic held in 2012 and 2017.
Those interested in contributing scientific posters have until May 2, 2025, to submit abstracts. The conference will focus on the radiation protection and safety of both patients and healthcare professionals who use radiation for diagnosis and treatment.
Global Developments in Medical Radiation
Medical use of radiation is expanding globally. The IAEA notes that approximately 4.2 billion medical radiological examinations are performed each year, a figure that’s rising. With this increase, the conference aims to review current trends in medical radiation technology and procedures.
“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.”
A Vision for the Future
The ‘X ray vision’ theme of the conference signifies the history of using ionizing radiation to see inside the human body, while also representing opportunities for experts to examine current and possible future trends and challenges. This examination will help them formulate a plan to improve global radiation protection for patients and medical staff.
Ola Holmberg, Head of the IAEA Radiation Protection of Patients Unit, explained that “The conference in 2012 led to the development of the decade-long Bonn Call for Action on strengthening radiation protection in medicine,” 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.”
Advancing Radiation Protection in Healthcare
Discussions at the conference will cover new trends in medical uses of radiation, such as the application of artificial intelligence in medical imaging and therapy. These advancements could speed up research aimed at reducing patient radiation doses. The event will also address quality assurance programs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical concerns like patient privacy and data security.
Participants will also consider ways to increase patient involvement in their healthcare plans. The conference serves as a platform for networking among various health professionals, including physicians specializing in radiological imaging, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy, along with referring practitioners, medical physicists, medical radiation technologists, and regulatory authorities.
Potential poster topics include the justification for using radiation in medicine, radiation protection for patients and staff in various diagnostic and therapeutic settings, and learning from unintended exposures. More detailed information on submitting abstracts is available on this topic.
