Visiting scientists discuss the latest techniques in cancer treatment

Sep 01, 2003

A group of 15 scientists from the United States, Italy and France paid a visit to the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics at the University of Wollongong on Thursday (28 August) to discuss the latest techniques for radiation therapy in cancer patients.

The scientists visited Wollongong while in Australia to attend the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering being held in Sydney from 24 to 29 August.

One of the visiting scientists from the United States, Dr John Dicello, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, has been working with scientists from UOW to study the radiation levels in space and whether or not astronauts are at a greater risk of developing cancer from space travel.

Dr Dicello has collaborated closely with UOW's Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld in an attempt to determine the cancer risk in space.

In regard to space environment, a tiny radiation monitoring device has been developed at UOW which will orbit the earth on the next generation of United States satellites and spacecraft, gathering vital information on radiation levels to help NASA predict the radiobiological effect of cosmic radiation. It will help NASA determine the safe levels of exposure for astronauts aboard space shuttles and orbiting space stations.

Following a formal seminar at the University, the visiting scientists toured the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics site and CT scanner and gamma camera donated by GE Medical Systems for medical physics education and research.