TU‐H‐BRB‐05: Radiation Countermeasures and the NASA Space Radiation Program

Abstract

The US government has substantial research and development activities underway for medical countermeasures that will insure the long‐term safety and survival of the country's population after unfortunate large‐scale biological, chemical and radiological and nuclear events. Preparedness includes research and development of medical countermeasures to address radiation‐induced cutaneous and internal injury from radiation and nuclear events as well as for minimizing radiation risks incurred during and after travel in space. Other important research and development efforts include the repurposing of countermeasures and development of radioprotectors and mitigators to improve the outcome of radiation treatment. Participating agencies include NIAID, BARDA, NCI, and NASA, with examples of research and development funding that includes the Centers for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation (CMCR) consortia (NIAID) and primary and sub‐contracts with commercial entities (BARDA). Each of these programs requires substantial medical and health physics effort in collaboration with biology colleagues to provide a range of radiation sources, dosimetry instrumentation and assessment methods, and animal models for specific radiation‐induced effects and injuries. Radiation countermeasure activities for government agencies will be reviewed, the importance of model development will be stressed, example radiation countermeasure research projects will be reviewed, and the roles for medical physicists will be discussed. Learning Objectives: Review US national radiation countermeasure activities. Review the roles for medical physicists in radiation countermeasures research and development. Understand specific physics challenges in radiation research that need solutions.Research for JD Bourland supported in part by: NIH/NIAID, U19 AI67798 (subcontract 131714). NIH/NCI, R01CA155293. HHSO10020130019C, BARDA/Argentum Medical LLC.; J. Bourland, Research supported in part by:NIH/NIAID, U19 AI67798 (subcontract 131714); NIH/NCI, R01CA155293; HHSO10020130019C, BARDA/Argentum Medical LLC.; P. Prasanna, Supported by the Radiation Research Program, National Cancer Institute