Entry requirements

1) Accepted participant in the Master programme in Medical Nuclide Techniques

--or--

2) University degree (BSc or MSc) after at least three years of study (minimum 120 credit points/180 credits or 180 ECTS credits) in life sciences (e.g. physics, radiophysics, chemistry or biology), medicine, pharmacy, nursing, or other relevant University education.

Learning outcomes

The course will prepare the students for continued studies within the program. After passed course it is expected that the student can:

-describe different types of ionising radiation, sources/production and their physical and biological characteristics

-describe the function and use of radiation protection instruments and detectors

-explain the theoretical background to the nuclide chart and use this knowledge to describe radioactive decays and production of nuclides

-use portable radiation protection instruments and interpret the obtained data

-explain units, concepts, rules, guidelines and threshold values for ionising radiation

-control standardized calculation methods for dosimetry, gamma constant, MIRD

-describe radiation-induced DNA lesions and describe cellular repair and formation of chromosomal aberrations

-explain clonogenic survival, radiation sensitivity and principles for modification of radiation response

-describe acute and late biological and medical effects of radiation

-describe the risks of ionising radiation

-describe the principles for radiation treatment of tumours and the therapeutic use of radionuclides

Content

-Basic physical aspects on ionising radiation

-Sources of ionising radiation, radioactive nuclides

-Interactions between ionising radiation and matter

-Radiation detectors

-Radiation quality, Stopping power, LET and photon attenuation

-Calculations and regulations for radiation protection, weight factors

-Interactions between radiation and biological matter, radiation sensitivity and principles for modification of radiation response

-Acute and long-term biological effects and protection against radiation effects

-Molecular and cellular effects regarding DNA damage, repair, gene activation

-Radiation-induced cell death, models and methods to measure biological effects of radiation, predictive assays

-Background radiation to relate to effects on the molecular and cellar targets

-Relative biological effectiveness (RBE), Auger-effects etc.

-Introduction to radiotherapy of tumours and therapeutic use of radionuclides

-Basic physical processes like Coulomb interactions, bremsstrahlung, photo and Compton effects as well as pair production

-Measuring methods; scintillators, ion chamber, TLD, diodes, film etc.

-Definition of dosimetric units; absorbed dose, kerma, fluence, equivalent dose, effective dose

-Simple dosimetric calculation methods used in radiation protection; gamma constant

-Internal dosimetry of radionuclides (MIRD)

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, exercises, study visits and laboratory work. Course-specific web site information and education material. Participation in seminars and laboratory work are compulsory.

Assessment

The course will end with a written examination. A passing grade for the entire course also requires passing grade for seminars and laboratory work. The grades "Pass" or "Fail" are given.