| BETHESDA, Md., May 12, 2008—Some 90 researchers from the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Sweden participated in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ (USU) Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute’s workshop, May 5–6.
The workshop dealt with how best to assess and treat military and civilian casualties of partial-body radiation exposure. Their deliberations are expected to be published soon in scientific literature.
"Our discussions addressed the need to prepare for emergencies that might result in mass radiation-exposure casualties and particularly for injuries resulting from partial-body exposures," said AFRRI Scientific Director Dr. Terry Pellmar. "Although most research focuses on uniform exposures, in a real event partial body exposures are, in fact, more likely. Rapid diagnosis will be essential to protecting organ systems that are seriously impacted by radiation, including bone marrow, the gastrointestinal tract and skin."
"The workshop discussions addressed the current status of our understanding of biomarkers for specific organ systems and pointed out the gaps in our knowledge. It became clear that to effectively treat partial-body exposures we will need to integrate our understanding of changes to various organ systems with clinical approaches," said Pellmar.
To read its agenda and poster topics, view the PB-Rad-Injury-2008 Workshop website.
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