117 - Addressing Global Gaps in Clinical Radiobiology Education: The IAEA e-Learning Solution for Radiation Oncology Professionals

Purpose/Objective(s): Comprehensive knowledge of radiobiology (RB) is fundamental for safe and effective radiation oncology practice, yet global shortages of qualified educators—particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—have led to significant variability in training quality. Whereas many high-income countries rely on dedicated radiobiologists, LMIC programs often depend on radiation oncologists or medical physicists to teach radiobiology, increasing the risk of gaps in foundational knowledge of biological principles underpinning radiation therapy. To support equitable training worldwide, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) developed a digital, self-paced clinical RB course covering fundamental principles of radiation biology. The course leverages contemporary e-learning technologies to create visually engaging, dynamic and interactive digital content accessible through the IAEA’s Moodle platform (CLP4NET). The aim was to design and implement a comprehensive and accessible e-learning course that effectively delivers the essential principles of basic and clinical RB relevant to modern radiation oncology (RO) practice, with a focus on key radiobiological concepts underpinning biological responses to radiation.

Materials/Methods: Course content was developed using Articulate 360 and based on updated content from IAEA RB teaching programs. Material was redesigned into interactive modules integrating multimedia elements, animations, and formative knowledge checks to enhance learner engagement and knowledge retention. The final course comprises eight lessons, each containing three to four modules of approximately 30 minutes in duration. The modules were deployed on the open-access IAEA learning management system (CLP4NET) in January 2025, enabling global accessibility.

Results: Eight lessons comprising twenty-one modules were developed, addressing key topics in basic and clinical RB. These include radiation physics and chemistry; DNA damage and repair mechanisms; cell survival and cell death pathways; the classical and contemporary “R’s” of radiobiology; tumor and normal tissue responses; the oxygen effect; and the radiobiological basis of dose, fractionation, and treatment time. The course is hosted on the IAEA Moodle platform and accessible through the IAEA Human Health Campus, enabling broad dissemination to RO professionals globally. Since its launch, the course has been accessed by over 1,078 professionals from 70 countries.

Conclusion: The IAEA clinical radiobiology e-learning course provides a scalable, cost-effective solution, to global disparities in RB education. By integrating interactive digital tools with open-access dissemination, it supports harmonized training standards and strengthens radiobiology competency across diverse clinical and educational settings worldwide. This initiative represents a significant advancement toward improving the quality and consistency of RO training worldwide.