Background
Multiple international efforts support the secure use of radioactive sources through a range of activities aimed at strengthening their physical protection and the competencies of the organisations using or regulating these sources. In addition, these international efforts include programmes to support the development and use of non-isotopic alternative technologies to radioactive sources, which are greatly contributing to reducing the radiological security risk.
In parallel, other international organisations and programmes are implementing activities to address the ever- growing cancer care needs, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A prerequisite to success for these programmes is the availability of proper treatment machines, in particular medical linear accelerators (linacs). Linacs do not contain radioactive sources and are generally considered to be superior alternatives to Co-60 based teletherapy units.
Security-focused and radiation-therapy focused organisations share the same objective: facilitating the world-wide sustainable use of Linacs in radiation therapy. The World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office for Radiological Security (ORS) have therefore decided to invite representatives from both security and radiotherapy-focused organisations to explore areas of common interest and identify collaboration opportunities beneficial to both groups.
WINS and ORS will organise a series of roundtables aiming at consolidating respective needs and objectives, reviewing on-going activities, identifying existing overlap, and suggesting opportunities for collaboration. Such opportunities for collaboration may be identified amongst international governmental organisations (IGOs) or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) themselves, or between IGOs and NGOs.
Objectives
The inaugural roundtable brought together relevant organizations, from both within and outside governments, to review the global status of radiological security and radiotherapy in the medical sector, and to assess, in both areas, the remaining challenges, especially in LMICs.
The roundtable highlighted the need for security and radiotherapy-focused organisations to work together to achieve joint objectives. It reviewed which stakeholders are involved in each area and highlighted experiences of collaboration between these two disciplines.
The event described the benefits of a strengthened collaboration and will stress the risk of not coordinating the two disciplines.
Representatives from security, radiotherapy and other disciplines were invited to share examples of collaboration between organisations, in particular those coordinating the actions of multiple NGOs. The roundtable discussed how the experience and lessons learned from these examples can be applied to strengthening the collaboration between security and radiotherapy-focused organisations.
Finally, the roundtable aimed at identifying concrete steps to improve coordination between organisations participating in the event. It reviewed ideas or opportunities for collaboration and explored if new partnerships could be established.
Audience
The roundtable was open to a group of 25 international experts.
The main target audience of this roundtable included representatives from:
- Radiological Security-focused Organizations
- Radiotherapy Non-Governmental Organizations
- International Organisations
- Cancer treatment organisations, including end-users of Linacs
- Academia
- Professional Organisations and Societies
Process
The roundtable was moderated by a professional facilitator. It was held in English, with no interpretation.
This event was interactive and built around several presentations from invited expert speakers, as well as plenary and small group discussions that enabled participants to further explore the topic and share their experience and lessons learned.
Venue: This event was conducted at the Bethesda Marriott (5151 Pooks Hill Road) - https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/wasbt-bethesda-marriott/overview/
Date: 24-25 October 2023
Language: English
