The IAEA has expanded its interactive e-learning course on radiation biology with four new modules designed to strengthen global expertise in using ionizing radiation to combat cancer. Understanding how ionizing radiation impacts cancer cells and normal tissues at the cellular and molecular level is essential for developing effective treatment protocols, safety standards and protective measures.
With 35.3 million new cancer cases and 18.5 million cancer-related deaths anticipated in 2050, the IAEA-led Lancet Oncology Commission on Radiotherapy and Theranostics shows that the radiation medicine workforce must grow by over 60 per cent from 2022 levels to meet this demand. For the more than 84 000 radiation oncologists, 47 000 medical physicists and 141 000 radiotherapy technologists who are needed by then, radiobiology will be essential to their medical knowledge and education. "For cancer patients, advancing radiobiology knowledge not only translates into high-quality care that is safe and effective but also drives cutting-edge research, innovative therapies and novel technologies which leverage radiobiological phenomena," pointed out May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health.
The IAEA's e-learning course on Basic Clinical Radiobiology - with its first four modules released in 2024 - has been helping to build the cancer care workforce of the future by covering the fundamental principles of radiation biology. Launched at the International Conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology in June 2025, the new content focuses on the clinical applications of radiobiology and can be used to supplement professional training programmes for radiotherapy professionals such as radiation oncologists, radiotherapy technologists and medical physicists.
"The additional modules that have been released focus on the integration of radiobiology into clinical practices to optimise treatment plans that maximise tumour control and minimise damage to healthy tissues," said Sandra Ndarukwa, Associate Education Officer (Radiation Oncology) and the IAEA specialist responsible for the course. "This also allows personalised treatment approaches for radiation doses and schedules that are tailored to individual patient characteristics and tumour biology."
ICARO-4 participants learning more about the launch of the four new modules. (Photo: P.Lee/IAEA)
Student-centred Learning
Through the four new modules, participants can study how tumours and normal tissues respond to radiation, and how radiation-resistant tumours can be treated by using or replicating the effects of oxygen that make cells sensitive to radiation. During the course, participants can learn how dose, fractionation (splitting the total radiation dose into several smaller doses over time) and overall treatment time impact tumour control. Interactive quizzes throughout the course reinforce learning by helping participants pinpoint and strengthen areas that need further review.
"The IAEA's radiobiology training material is rooted in student-centred, active learning approaches which integrate digital tools and resources to foster deeper learning, adaptability and engagement," said Ans Baeyens, Associate Professor of Radiobiology at Ghent University and a group leader at Cancer Research Institute Ghent.
Users can flexibly navigate between each module, repeat the course on-demand as many times as they wish and receive feedback. With an average duration of 30 minutes, the four new modules use enriched media as well as interactive elements to enhance their learning experience. The course layout and features have also been optimized for mobile devices, making it user-friendly and readily accessible.
"In low and middle-income countries, access to structured radiobiology education remains limited despite its critical role in radiation oncology training," said Jickson Flores, Radiation Oncology Residency Training Officer at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines. "The IAEA's radiobiology modules enable residents to gain foundational knowledge regardless of geographic or institutional limitations. This will empower a new generation of radiation oncologists with the scientific rigor needed to improve cancer care in underserved regions."
"As an example, resource-efficient approaches such as hypofractionation can help to expand cancer care access but these require an understanding of the biological effectiveness of doses. The IAEA's radiobiology modules can bridge these gaps in understanding and provide essential, accessible training for professionals worldwide," said Abdel-Wahab.
Learners from around the world can access the clinical radiobiology e-learning course and its new content via the IAEA Human Health Campus or the Cyber Learning Platform for Network Education and Training (CLP4NET).
