Course description

This is a short course that is meant to provide the most basic elements of biology and radiobiology to students trained in physics or engineering. It is part of the Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics at ICTP.

Course program

Textbooks and useful links

Reference textbooks:

  • N. Suntharalingam, E.B. Podgorsak, J.H. Hendry: "Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students", IAEA (ISBN 92-0-107304-6) ch. 14, available here
  • NIGMS Science Education: "Inside the Cell" (simple introduction to cell biology), available here
  • E.J. Hall, A.J. Giaccia: "Radiobiology for the Radiologist", Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (2005)

Other useful books:

  • Alpen: "Radiation Biophysics, 2nd ed.", Elsevier 1997 (link to publisher's site)
  • Attix: "Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation Dosimetry", Wiley 1986 (link to publisher's site)
  • Saha: "Physics and Radiobiology of Nuclear Medicine" Springer 2006 (link to publisher's site)
  • Rensberger: "Instant Biology" Fawcett Books 1996 (nice, simple introduction to Biology, you can find it, e.g., here or here)
  • Tubiana: "Introduction To Radiobiology" CRC Press 2005 (link to publisher's site)
  • Free Medical Physics books from the Physics World Discovery series (IOP)

Miscellaneous course materials

Useful links

Blogs:

Links to scientific journals:

Exams

Examinations are written and students must be able to answer a set of simple questions and discuss a few topics in free form.

Archive of past written tests (text + solution)