Clinical and Experimental Radiobiology Course

Program Overview

Clinical and Experimental Radiobiology is an award-winning five-day course that takes place at the University of Toronto in the Spring every year.

This program provides a comprehensive overview of radiation biology with a particular emphasis on aspects of direct relevance to the practice of radiation oncology. It addresses the molecular and cellular responses to radiation-induced damage that influence cell death in both tumors and normal tissues. Quantitation of radiation effects and the underlying biological basis for fractionation of radiotherapy and dose-response relationships in the clinic are covered in depth. The biological basis for current approaches to improve radiotherapy will be described including novel fractionation schemes, retreatment issues, targeting hypoxia, biological modifiers and combined radiotherapy/chemotherapy.

Course Details

Dates: April 7-11, 2025 (Monday to Friday)
Time: 10:00AM - 6:00PM (EDT)
Location: Room 126, Woodsworth College, University of Toronto (119 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5S 1A9)
Format: Hybrid mode
- Local learners: In person at the University of Toronto St. George campus
- Non-local learners: Option to attend in person or online via Zoom

Final Question Period (Optional): TBD.

Program Schedule

Program schedule will be released in early 2025. Check out the 2024 program schedule here.

Program Goals and Learning Objectives

Apply novel forms of therapy, including combination therapy with chemotherapy and targeted agents to improve patient outcomes;
Improve the safety of radiation therapy and reduce side effects through an understanding of the biological principles involved;
Describe the key aspects of radiation biology that are of particular relevance to the practice of radiation oncology;
Predict the molecular and cellular responses to radiation-induced damage that influence cell death in both tumors and normal tissues;
Quantify the radiation effects and the underlying biological basis for fractionation of radiotherapy and dose-response relationships in the clinic;
Evaluate the biological basis for side effects that limit safe doses of treatment and retreatment.

Topics Covered

Molecular and cellular responses to radiation-induced damage that influence cell death in both tumors and normal tissues.
Quantitation of radiation effects and the underlying biological basis for fractionation of radiotherapy and dose response relationships in the clinic.
Biological basis for current approaches to improve radiotherapy, including novel fractionation schemes, combined radiotherapy/chemotherapy, biological modifiers and retreatment issues, targeting hypoxia.

Target Group

The course is designed primarily to address the needs of radiation oncology residents and physics residents who are in radiation oncology departments. In addition, the course will be valuable to new researchers in radiation biology and to radiation oncology fellows or practicing oncologists who recognize a lack of basic science or want to update their knowledge.

Final Exam#

Date: TBD
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (ET)*
Location: TBD*
Format:
- Local learners: In person on the computer
- Non-local learners: Online

*The exam time and location for non-local learners will be determined on a case-by-case basis. (Exam proctored locally - details will be sent directly to course participants and local coordinators)

^#Please read the next section carefully to understand if you need to take the exam to receive your preferred credits.

Who needs to take the exam?

The exam is mandatory for students seeking course credit at their educational institution. Learners who are taking this course for other reasons are not required to take the exam.

Learners who take and pass the exam will receive:

University of Toronto Certificate of Completion
Credits according to your institution, or CPD credits if applicable.

Learners who do not take the exam or do not pass, will get:

University of Toronto's Certificate of Attendance

Exam Passing Grade

70%

Course Faculty

The list of course faculty for 2025 will be released by the end of 2024. The 2024 course featured internationally renowned faculty, including:

University of Toronto Faculty

Dr. Marianne Koritzinsky, Course Director
Dr. Scott Bratman
Dr. Hanbo Chen
Dr. Tim Craig
Dr. Deepak Dinakaran
Dr. Kathy Han
Dr. Shane Harding
Dr. David Hodgson
Dr. Andrew Hope
Dr. Jennifer Kwan
Dr. Patricia Lindsay
Dr. David Shultz
Dr. Amandeep Taggar
Dr. Bradly Wouters

International Faculty

Dr. Michael Joiner (Wayne State University, Detroit, MI)
Dr. Albert van der Kogel (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI)

Suggested Textbook

The suggested textbook for this course is Basic Clinical Radiobiology. It is strongly recommended that you read specified sections of this book before attending the course.

Registration

Registration will open in late 2024.

(You will be redirected to the Eventbrite registration page to complete your order.)

Professional Accreditation

Accreditation details for 2025 will be released in early 2025. In 2024, Continuing Professional Development in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto granted the Clinical and Experimental Radiobiology Program the following credits:

Royal College Maintenance of Certification Section 1: 22.5 hours
Royal College Maintenance of Certification Section 3 Self-Assessment: 6.0 hours
American Medical Association Category 1: 28.5 credits
European Union for Medical Specialists UEMS-EACCME®: 28.5 credits

More Information

Please email the Department of Radiation Oncology: radiation.oncology@utoronto.ca