Funded by: BMBF

Duration: 2008 until 2014

Responsible project leader: Dr. R. Kriehuber

Objectives

The aim of the project is to identify gene expression changes in human cells and cell lines that reproducibly and sensitively indicate radiation exposure to different radiation qualities and thereby allow quantification of radiation doses and discrimination of different radiation qualities.

Background

Protection of humans from the adverse effects of ionizing radiation is a major goal of the Radiation Protection field. In the case of accidental exposures to radiation the development of effective counter measures requires information on the actual exposure dose as well as knowledge on the individual radiosensitivity of the exposed group of individuals. The aim of the study is a) to identify gene and proteins which respond sensitively and reproducibly after exposure to ionizing radiation and b) whether these gene and protein activation pattern can be used to quantify radiation dose and allow the discrimination of radiation qualities. The particular interest lies on determining the inter-individual variability as well as on assessing the separate effects of the different qualities of ionising radiation.