IAEA General Conference: IRSN highlights participatory medicine

Each year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organizes its General Conference bringing together representatives of Member States. This general conference is an opportunity for Member States to share information on their national nuclear programs and various current issues, particularly in the scientific field. This 66th edition takes place from September 26 to 30, 2022 in Vienna (Austria). Jean-Christophe Niel, Director General of IRSN, will meet some of his counterparts in other delegations and will discusse future collaborations in terms of safety and radiation protection.

On the sidelines of the General Conference, the IAEA organizes its scientific forum : the theme of this year is the fight against cancer. Through his participation in this forum, Jean-Christophe Niel emphasized participatory medicine with the involvement of patients in their treatment. He also highlighted the issues around the perception of risk and communication to compare benefits and disadvantages, as well as the equality of patients in the face of the risks associated with cancer treatments. Finally, within the framework of the IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative, Jean-Christophe Niel presents the joint will of the IRSN and the IAEA to unite their efforts in the field of the fight against cancer through the establishment of a Collaborating Center.

During the week, IRSN also organizes a side event, centered on research platforms. The latter reviews the contribution of technical and experimental platforms and research data to strengthening nuclear safety. He stresses the need to secure their future as nuclear programs are relaunched in many countries. Each organization involved in a collaborative research project developed on these platforms has access to all research results faster and also to shared costs. These platforms are also an essential training tool for the younger generation and allow the development of a community of qualified experts.