Future of Low-Dose Radiation Research in the US: 2019 Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium
, by DCEG Staff
The annual Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium was hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on May 8 and 9, 2019; the meeting was sponsored in part by the NCI Radiation Epidemiology Branch.
This year’s focus was the future of low-dose radiation research and the need for a long-term strategy to guide low-dose radiation research in the United States. Invited speakers included experts in radiation dosimetry and health physics, clinicians, epidemiologists, policy-makers and representatives from regulatory agencies.
During the two-day meeting, the group enjoyed presentations and engaged in lively discussion on a wide range of topics, from a review of the current status of low-dose radiation research to the need for prioritization of scientific goals, the potential value of a long-term strategy to guide such research in the U.S., the pros and cons of different options and approaches, as well as criteria to judge success of such a strategy.
Many from DCEG were in attendance or participated by live-stream video. REB Chief Amy Berrington, D.Phil., gave a talk on Medical Exposure Studies during the session on current directions for low-dose radiation research.
The Gilbert W. Beebe symposium, hosted by the Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board at the National Academy of Sciences Historic Building, honors the late Dr. Beebe, an NCI investigator for 25 years and leader of studies on the health effects of ionizing radiation, including early research on the effects of exposure from the Chernobyl accident. The meeting was co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Watch the archived video of the 2-day symposium (video embedded in web page).