Saliva sampling exercise with a child for body composition assessment. (Photo: V. Owino/IAEA)
The IAEA advances public health around the world by helping countries apply nuclear techniques to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. From cancer therapy to heart disease, nutrition and zoonotic disease surveillance, here are six key areas where the IAEA makes a difference to global health.
To expand access to lifesaving cancer treatment, particularly in LMICs where the need is greatest, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi launched the Rays of Hope initiative in February 2022. (Photo: IAEA)
1. Expanding Access to Radiotherapy Services Worldwide
More than 100 countries have joined the IAEA's Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative , which works with governments, international financial institutions and the private sector to help increase radiotherapy access in low- and middle- income countries. Radiotherapy is an essential component of cancer treatment.
Under the initiative: more than 90 million euros in extrabudgetary funds has been raised to support cancer care in low- and middle- income countries, ten linear accelerators and 55 mammography machines have been procured, and 20 Anchor Centres established across four regions.
Rays of Hope Anchor Centres are leading cancer institutions recognized for excellence in clinical care, quality management, training, research and innovation. This global network has provided training to more than 700 professionals in the use of radiation medicine, expanding access to safe, high-quality cancer care.
The IAEA also works with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to conduct imPACT reviews - comprehensive assessments of a country's cancer control capacities and needs. ImPACT Review recommendations help to inform technical cooperation projects, national cancer control plans and strategic funding documents.
The IAEA has a long history of producing teaching and training materials in nuclear medicine. (Photo: IAEA)
2. Strengthening Nuclear Medicine for Better Diagnostics and Treatment
Nuclear medicine involves the administration into the body of radiopharmaceuticals, which are compounds containing small amounts of radioactive material. These agents enable diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases, including early detection of cancer, significantly improving treatment outcomes and reducing mortality. These approaches also play a key role in identifying cardiovascular diseases and chronic conditions affecting the thyroid, brain and bones.
The IAEA supports countries in setting up nuclear medicine and radiology departments, providing technical expertise and experience to support countries in realizing safe, effective and high-quality medical imaging and targeted treatment for all.
An IAEA dosimetrist conducting a training session at the Dosimetry Laboratory to strengthen the quality assurance capabilities of cancer centres across the globe. (Photo: G. Velez/IAEA)
3. Improving Precision Through Dosimetry and Quality Assurance
Medical X-rays and CT scans use ionizing radiation to generate images from inside the body, enabling doctors to see broken bones or cancer tumours. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to treat cancer, targeting tumours effectively while limiting the dose to nearby healthy organs and tissues.
The IAEA's Dosimetry Laboratory helps improve patient safety and effectiveness in radiotherapy and medical imaging through two services: calibration and audit services. Calibration ensures that medical facilities can measure radiotherapy doses accurately. Audits verify that doses and calculated and delivered accurately.
The IAEA publishes guidance on quality assurance and dosimetry for medical physicists in radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology and radiation metrologists. It also works with partners to provide regional and national training courses and specialized workshops for medical physicists and radiation metrologists on topics related to quality assurance and dosimetry.
Veterinary scientists receive hands-on training on test verification and validation for molecular diagnostic assays at the Seibersdorf laboratory. (Photo: IAEA)
4. Supporting Zoonotic Disease Detection and Control
Zoonotic diseases - pathogens that jump from animals to humans - represent one of the greatest threats to modern society. They account for 60% of known infectious diseases and 75% of all emerging ones.
These diseases affect human health, causing acute illness and long-term complications, resulting in an estimated 2.6 billion cases and 2.7 million deaths annually.
The IAEA's Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative was established to help prevent pandemics caused by pathogens - bacteria, parasites, fungi, or viruses - that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. By leveraging nuclear and nuclear-derived technologies, ZODIAC strengthens countries' preparedness and capabilities to rapidly detect, identify, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Once an outbreak is detected and characterized, then quick and data-driven responses can be taken.
5. Enhancing Health Through Nutrition Science
The world is facing a double burden of malnutrition, with undernutrition and obesity driving rising rates of non‑communicable diseases. By developing and transferring nuclear and related techniques, the IAEA advances global health by supporting the use of nutrition science to generate precise data on energy expenditure, body composition, breastfeeding practices, nutrient absorption, and skeletal health.
The IAEA also supports clinicians and public health professionals in using nuclear and related techniques to assess nutritional status and design effective actions to prevent and manage all forms of malnutrition across the life course.
These techniques include stable isotope methods and imaging. The IAEA also compiles and hosts global databases on energy expenditure, human milk intake and body composition. These have informed publications that have for example dispelled longstanding beliefs about energy metabolism.
Dosimetry helps specialized doctors deliver precise radiation treatment for cancer treatment. (Photo: Dean Calma / IAEA)
6. Building Global Knowledge Through the Human Health Programme
The Human Health programme supports all IAEA activities in human health.
The IAEA's Human Health Series and Human Health Reports provide training materials, research findings, and technical guidance on radiation therapy, radiology and nuclear medicine, quality assurance and dosimetry, medical physics, and nutrition. These publications support health professionals in improving diagnostics, therapy, and health outcomes worldwide.
From radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging to radiopharmaceuticals, nutrition, and zoonotic disease control, the IAEA helps countries use nuclear science and technology to tackle global health challenges. By knowledge transfer, building capacity, and providing essential calibration and audit services, the Agency supports countries in delivering safer, more effective, and more accessible radiation medicine and public health services.
