INDO US WORKSHOP ON NEW TECHNIQUE IN SCREENING NUCLEAR RADIATION

June 24th 2024.

A three day Indo US workshop on ‘Biomarkers in radiation exposure’ that began
at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research here today discussed
emerging promising tools for screening affected people during a nuclear event.

Inaugurating it Dr. Guy Garty, Director, Radiological Research Accelerator
Facility and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University said that
currently even large cytogenetic laboratory networks can only analyse some hundreds of
samples a day. The Columbia centre has developed a miniaturised and automated blood
based biodosimetry assays that can be performed on 96 well plates using robotic
platforms. By leveraging existing commercial High Throughput cellular Screening (HTS)
platforms for biodosimetry which exist in many countries, thousands of samples can be
analysed every day. During nuclear events many people not exposed to radiation could
also rush and block hospitals, rendering treatment to the really exposed people difficult.
To help triage a large number of people during such situations this centre has developed a
rapid yes/no tests similar to COVID tests and is awaiting FDA approval. These tests cannot determine dose, but can be used to screen out those who were not exposed reducing the required capacity for precise biodosimetry testing, he added.

Speaking on the occasion Prof. P. Venkatachalam, Head Human Genetics and convenor of the workshop said SRIHER as the docimetry centre for IGCAR, has inbuilt facilities to test new techniques and the SPARK (GoI’s scheme for promotion of academic and research) workshop attended by 108 participants from 20 different organisations across the country will help spread this knowledge and capacity.

Dr. Uma Sekar, Vice Chancellor SRIHER said this workshop will promote
emergency preparedness by training people needed to handle nuclear events. Prof. Venkat
Sai, Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Dr. Sudha Warrier, Principal, faculty of
biomedical sciences and technology were among those who participated in the event.

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For more information please contact… Dr. P. Venkatachalam, HoD, Human Genetics, 9840479355.
Issued by Mr. T. G. Nallamuthu, Consultant, and Media Relations, SRIHER 9444265578, 9940399346.
Mr. D. Sivagnanavel, Head-Media & Corporate Relations, SRIHER, 9444 448616.

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