Purpose
The purpose of the event is to review significant global developments in the radiation protection and safety of patients and health professionals, taking into account current trends and advances in medical radiation technology and procedures, and to identify future challenges and opportunities. The impact of the decade-long Bonn Call for Action on strengthening radiation protection in medicine will be assessed in line with the vision of formulating a robust strategy for the next decade.
Objectives
- To review actions and developments to strengthen radiation protection in medicine over the last decade, especially focusing on actions taken in line with the Bonn Call for Action by all relevant parties;
- To consider the overall approach to the implementation of these actions and the harmonization of activities between international organizations and other stakeholders;
- To allow stakeholders to assess and look ahead at new developments impacting on radiation protection in medicine, so that future priorities can be formulated.
Target Audience
The conference is directed at a wide audience with an interest in radiation protection in medicine. In particular: health professionals and referring medical practitioners; physicians practising in radiological imaging, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy; representatives of patient organizations; health researchers, academics and communicators; regulatory authorities.
Background
The IAEA was requested by its General Conference in 1999 to organize an international conference on radiation protection of patients. This conference was held in March 2001 in Malaga, Spain, and set in motion an international action plan, guiding international efforts in patient protection.
Considering trends and developments, the IAEA decided to hold its second conference on radiation protection in medicine in 2012 in Bonn, Germany. The conference aimed to focus efforts in this area and develop a strategy for the following decade so as to maximize the positive impact of future international work. This resulted in the Bonn Call for Action.
During the five years following the Bonn conference, initiatives were taken by professional societies to form regional radiation protection campaigns. An increasing number of articles appeared in journals in the area of patient, occupational and public medical radiation protection. There were also technological advances in imaging, therapy and dosimetry equipment with a focus on radiation protection.
Five years after the Bonn conference, the progress of implementation of the Bonn Call for Action and appraisal of advances in the field was discussed at the third conference on radiation protection in medicine in 2017 at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. On the topic of international cooperation emphasis was placed on the development of the Bonn Call for Action implementation toolkit, and on sharing available implementation resources created by different organizations.
Key Deadlines and Dates
- 2 May 2025: Submission of abstracts through IAEA-INDICO
- 2 May 2025: Submission of Form B (together with Form A) through the InTouch+ platform
- 2 May 2025: Submission of Form C (together with Form A) through the InTouch+ platform
- after 20 June 2025: Notification of acceptance of abstracts for poster presentation
- 3 December 2025: Submission of Form A only (no paper submission, no grant request) through the InTouch+ platform
Authors must register online using the InTouch+ platform. The online registration together with the auto-generated Participation Form (Form A) and Form for Submission of a Paper (Form B) must reach the IAEA no later than 2 May 2025.
