Recent advances in radiation research for human health and environment

The 1st International Conference on Radiation Research: Impact on Human Health and Environment (2016) and First Biennial Meeting of Society for Radiation Research was organized at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai (India). Recent developments in molecular, translational, and clinical radiobiology were discussed among basic and translational scientists as well as clinicians. The meeting has covered the topics ranging from the most recent insight into the paradigm shift from DNA-based radiation health effects (epigenetics), radiation biology from laboratory clinic, radiobiologically relevant redox metabolism, hypoxia, stem cell biology, hyperthermia to advances in dose deposition, and understanding the molecular biological effects of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation. Mechanism of radiobiological effects of actinides, and the search for novel radiosensitizers, radiation countermeasures, and efficient actinide decorporation agents were discussed for further improvement in cancer radiotherapy, radiation protection, and medical management of internal contamination in humans. This report summarizes the key points of recent observations/results presented in the meeting, and highlights their importance in view of human health and environment. This document would also help in understanding the significance of synergistic interaction among radiation researchers, scientists, clinicians, medical physicists, and radiation environmentalists for harnessing the real potential of radiation/radioactivity for better care of human health and environment