Nuclear power

WAGRAMER STRASSE 5, P.O. BOX 100, A-1400 VIENNA, AUSTRIA TELEPHONE: (+43 1) 2600, FACSIMILE: (+43 1) 26007, TELEX: 112645 ATOM A, E-MAIL: [email protected], INTERNET: http://www.iaea.org The Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency presents its compliments to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Member States of the Agency and has the honour to requestthat they draw the attention of the appropriate Governmental authorities to one of the functionsof the Agency, namely to encourage and assist research on, and the development and practicalapplication of, atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world. Research institutes inMember States have the opportunity to participate in research projects co-ordinated by theAgency with the possibility of financial support through contracts.
The Secretariat would, therefore, be grateful if the attached paper could be brought to the attention of institutions that might be interested in proposing projects for research anddevelopment within the topic areas listed in the attachment. It is important that any proposals forfunding in 2003 be received as early as possible as it is intended that funds available for newresearch projects be committed in the first half of the year.
For each proposal approved, a research contract or an agreement, as explained in the attached paper, will be awarded to the institution entrusted with the work, and the Government ofthe Member State concerned will be informed accordingly.
The Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs the assurances of its highestconsideration.
WAGRAMER STRASSE 5, P.O. BOX 100, A-1400 VIENNA, AUSTRIA TELEPHONE: (+43 1) 2600, FACSIMILE: (+43 1) 26007, TELEX: 112645 ATOM A, E-MAIL: [email protected], INTERNET: http://www.iaea.org INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AGENCY’S
CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
The International Atomic Energy Agency is authorized under its Statute: "to encourage and assist research on, and the development and practical application of, atomic energy forpeaceful uses throughout the world". The Agency's programme and budget for 2003 accordinglyprovides for the placing of research contracts and agreements with universities, colleges, researchcentres, and laboratories, and other institutions in Member States on subjects directly related tothe Agency's work.
The financial support of a project by the Agency is normally provided by means of a lump-sum cost-sharing contract. The Contractor is usually expected to bear part of the cost of theproject and, in any case, to continue to make normal contributions in the form of overhead andother expenses. The Agency therefore contributes an appropriate percentage to the totalestimated costs. Due to the limited resources available, the amounts awarded are rarely large -the present average being approximately US $5,000 per annum per contract. Larger awards may,however, be considered. In addition to the contract award, contractors participating in AgencyCo-ordinated Research Projects (CRPs) are invited to attend periodic research co-ordinationmeetings at the Agency's expense.
Agreements may be awarded to institutes, normally in developed countries, for participation in an Agency CRP. Under such agreements, no financial award is made to theagreement holder other than the provision to attend research co-ordination meetings at theAgency's expense.
Institutions to which research contracts and agreements will be awarded are selected by the Agency. When a specific proposal for research is made by an institution in a Member State,the decision to award a research contract or agreement is made after careful consideration ofseveral factors; namely the technical merits of the proposal, the compatibility of the project withthe Agency's own functions and approved programmes, the availability of appropriate facilitiesand personnel in the institution and previous research work related to the project.
Additionally, where it is recognized that the award of a particular research contract or agreement would materially assist one of the Agency's programmes, especially in terms ofparticipating in CRPs, an invitation is sent to those institutes believed to have the necessaryfacilities and personnel, with the Member States concerned being kept informed.
In providing research support from the limited funds available to the programme, priority is normally given to proposals received from institutions in developing countries.
Based either on a proposal made by the Agency, or a proposal developed at a research institute, a formal submission of a project proposal must be made by the institute concerned to theResearch Contracts Administration Section. Such proposals should reach the Agency prior to theend of May 2003.
If the proposed project is approved a contract or agreement will be sent to the head of the institution for approval and signature, and the Government of the Member State will be dulynotified through the appropriate channels of the conclusion of the contract or agreement. For allresearch contract proposals IAEA form number N-17/Rev.6, "Research Contract Proposal", mustbe used. Proposals for research agreements should be made on IAEA form number N-20/Rev.2,"Proposal for Research Agreement". Copies of these forms are available on the Agency’sInternet site: or may be obtained by writing to theAgency at the following address:- For Attention:Mr. James ReedActing Head, Research Contracts Administration SectionInternational Atomic Energy AgencyVienna International CentreWagramer Strasse 5P.O. Box 100A-1400 Vienna, Austria GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
All research contracts are normally awarded for a period of one year, renewable up to the total project period. Research agreements are awarded for the duration of the CRP.
Each contractor must submit a final report at the end of the contract. Should a contract be renewed one or more times, the requirement for a final report is waived until the end of the finalyear of contract. However, a progress report must accompany each renewal application.
Agreement holders must submit a report at each research co-ordination meeting.
The timetable of the Agency's payments is arranged when the contract is negotiated.
Cash payments are normally made to the contractor for all expenses covered under the contract,except in the case where the Agency is requested to procure equipment or incur some otherexpenditure on behalf of the contractor; in this case the portion of the total amount designated forsuch purposes is withheld.
Payment is normally made in two equal instalments, the first being made at the outset of the contract and the second upon the successful completion of the work envisaged in the contract.
Should one or more renewals of contract be granted, one half of the amount is normally paid atthe outset of the renewal contract and the second half upon the successful completion of the workenvisaged under that contract. Under contracts providing purchase of equipment by the Agencyon behalf of the contractor only one cash payment will be made at the outset of the contract. TheAgency reserves the right to pay to institutions 60% of the first cash payment due in the currencyof the Member State. Second and final cash payments for each contract or renewal are madeupon receipt and Agency evaluation of the progress or final report. Funds awarded underresearch contracts remain available for three years (the year in which the contract was awarded,plus two further years). Funds will not be paid to a Contractor after the expiry of the three-yearperiod. All efforts should be made to submit required reports in a timely manner.
Publication, either by the institution or the Agency, of the results of work performed under research contracts and agreements is recognized as being normally the most appropriateand effective way of bringing these results to the notice of other scientists. The Contractor mustacknowledge the Agency’s support of the work in any publication. Appropriate provision forpatent rights is also made in the contract/agreement.
The Contractor may wish to use a portion of the funds provided by the Agency for the purchase of equipment required in connection with the contract. Only items relating to theproject concerned can be purchased from the funds provided by the Agency. These items can bepurchased directly by the Contractor or, upon request, procurement of equipment items can bearranged by the Agency in cases where this expedites their supply. Funds reserved for purchaseof project related supplies and equipment by the Agency on behalf of the contractor aretransferred to a Trust Fund in which they remain until all foreseen purchases are made.
Each contract/agreement provides that the Agency shall not be liable for any death, injury or damage arising out of the execution of the research project; as a rule, a clause is includedrequiring the Contractor or Agreement holder to hold the Agency harmless from any damagesuits. Provision is also made for settlement of disputes, usually by arbitration, and for theadoption by the Contractor of the applicable health, safety and other standards.
AGENCY CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR WHICH
RESEARCH MAY BE SUPPORTED
Most of the research supported by the Agency is related to its Co-ordinated Research Projects (CRPs) developed in line with overall Agency goals. Only in exceptional cases will
research contract funds be used to finance individual contract proposals not forming part of a
CRP but which, however, deal with topics in the Agency's programme. The following list
includes CRPs under which the Agency will consider support of research in 2003. Additionally,
the Agency Internet site:- http://www.iaea.or.at/programmes/ri/uc.html will list during
2003 those CRPs which have received approval subsequent to the sending of this letter, and
for which proposals are solicited.
All proposals will be given most careful consideration. Inquiries concerning specific CRPs should be addressed to the Research Contracts Administration Section.
NUCLEAR POWER
Nuclear Power Technology Development and Applications
Studies of advanced reactor technology options for effective incineration of radioactive
waste
Member States pursuing R&D activities in the area of partitioning and transmutation (P&T)
have recognised the need for comparative assessments between different
incinerating/transmuting nuclear systems. The goal of these studies is ultimately to provide
objective ground for answering the question as to whether it is worthwhile to embark into the
management of high-level radioactive wastes via P&T and face higher costs and potentially
higher risks in order to decrease the long-term radio-toxicity in the geological disposal, or
whether innovative nuclear systems (e.g., hybrid systems) presently under discussion have a
distinctive edge over “classical” systems (e.g., advanced fast reactors). In this CRP R&D
tasks contributing towards the proof of practicality for long-lived waste transmutation will be
performed. For a sound assessment of the transient and accident behaviour, the neutron
kinetics and dynamics have to be qualified, especially as the margins of the safety relevant
neutronics parameters are becoming small. The CRP will pursue benchmarking of
transient/accident simulation codes focusing on the phenomena and effects relevant to various
sub-critical systems under severe neutron flux changes and rearrangements. The final goal is
to deepen the understanding of the dynamics of the accelerator driven system, especially
systems with deteriorated safety parameters, qualify the available methods, specify the range
of validity of methods, and formulate requirements for future theoretical developments. The
potential need for transient experiments will be formulated if deemed necessary
Benchmark analyses on data and calculational methods for accelerator driven system
(ADS) source related neutronic phenomenology with experimental validation
Most Member States with nuclear programmes are considering ADS systems as a means to
implement nuclear waste transmutation in the scope of their nuclear waste management
strategies. The objective of the CRP is to improve the present understanding of the coupling
of ADS spallation sources with multiplicative sub-critical nuclear systems. The proposed
CRP will advance the Member States efforts towards designing a demonstration facility by
providing the information exchange and collaborative research framework needed to ensure
that the tools to perform detailed ADS calculations, namely from the high energy proton beam
down to thermal neutron energies, are available. The proposed CRP will address all major
physics phenomena of the spallation source and its coupling to the sub-critical system. The
participants will use integrated calculation schemes to perform computational and
experimental benchmark analyses.
Conservation and application of high-temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel
technology: advances in HTGR fuel technology development
This CRP will identify research needs and exchange information on advances in technology
for a limited number of topical areas of primary interest to HTR development, and establish,
within these topical areas, a centralised co-ordination function for the conservation of HTGR
know-how and for international collaboration, utilising electronic information exchange, data
acquisition and archiving methods.
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES
Coated Particle Fuel Technology for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle
High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGR) offer an answer to the three basic doctrines
of nuclear energy namely environmental friendliness, resource utilization efficiency and cost-
effectiveness. These reactors facilitate various advanced functions such as high temperature
gas applications, transuranic-burning capacity, thorium utilization, fission product retention
for ultimate disposal and hydrogen production. These achievements of the HTGR concept are
due to its unique coated particle fuel design, which has all these inherent rewards and
potentials. Coated particle fuel has a micro spherical fuel particle coated by four layers e.g.
carbon and silicon carbide or zirconium carbide. Recognizing these potential benefits of
HTGR, many of Member States are seriously pursuing the development of coated particle
fuel. The objectives of the CRP are: a) new requirements and developments in coated particle
fuel technology to deal with modern safety criteria, high burnup for Pu as well as transuranics
burning, incorporating nano-technology for coating, developing Inert Matrix Fuel and
thorium based coated particle fuel issues; b) data analysis and documentation; c) fuel
fabrication; d) fuel irradiation; e) fuel accident condition testing; f) fuel performance and
fission product transport modelling; g) generic fuel issues; h) fuel performance in operating
HTGRs. The CRP will complement the R&D efforts currently underway in several Member
States in establishing high operational limits and realizing the advanced potential of HTGRs.
System Study on Process Optimization and Minimization of Environmental Impacts
associated with Partitioning and Transmutation
Despite innovations in nuclear power plant technology, nuclear energy is unable to gain
complete public acceptance due to long-term radiological toxicity of nuclear waste arising out
of the back-end of the fuel cycle. Many Member States are contemplating the use of advanced
Partitioning and Transmutation (P&T) techniques in the nuclear fuel cycle to destroy long-
lived radiotoxic elements, such as minor actinides and other pertinent fission products, to
diminish this radiological toxicity. As any nuclear procedure involves a radiation burden to
the operators, it is appropriate to arrive at optimum conditions for P&T which would result in
minimized environmental impacts apart from other technical considerations. A pyrochemical
partition method for recovering long-lived actinides decides the effectiveness of P&T. The
objectives of the CRP are: a) to conduct an evaluation of recent advances in pyrochemical
processing of various types of advanced fast reactor fuels in the form of oxide, nitride, alloys
or cermets; b) to select pyrochemical processing methods of various ADS targets from the
knowledge of fast reactor processing, and c) to identify areas of collaborative research as well
as scaling-up of pyrochemical methods. The results of this CRP will provide the Member
States the information necessary to deal with the back-end of nuclear fuel with minimum
environmental impacts by effective use of pyrochemical partition methods in P&T.
Ageing of Irradiated Reactor Core Materials
The decommissioning of research reactors presents an excellent opportunity to assess the
ageing of core materials by examining samples of core structural materials for the assessment
of important properties, such as embrittlement and other degradations of the mechanical and
physical properties of highly irradiated materials. Most of the reactors currently being
decommissioned operated for periods of 30 to 40 years and the accumulated fluences are very
high. Hot cell evaluation of samples of such materials can reveal the extent of ageing
degradation and estimates of their remaining life under operating conditions. The expected
results of the CRP should serve two very important purposes: 1) provide information for those
seeking to license life extension of similar reactors; and 2) provide very useful information on
core materials selection for the designers of new reactors. In addition, the results should
provide further insights into the mechanisms of radiation damage, especially at high fluences.
NUCLEAR SCIENCE
Nuclear and Atomic Data
Evaluated nuclear data for the Thorium-Uranium fuel cycle
Member States have expressed interest in the development of proliferation-resistant advanced
nuclear fuel cycles, especially the Th-U fuel cycle. Current predictions of fuel cycle
parameters are not precise because of uncertainty in the nuclear data employed. The objective
of the CRP is to identify the particular deficiencies in nuclear data that are responsible for
observed discrepancies in predictions of Th-U fuel cycle parameters, and to make
corresponding improvements in the nuclear database.
Nuclear Research Facilities and Instrumentation
Development of distance learning (DL) modules on troubleshooting of nuclear instruments
The objective of this CRP is to help Member States train engineers and technicians more
efficiently. The distance learning modules will also help the students understand the
fundamentals of electronic circuits and instruments before they come to Agency training
courses. This will ensure that the students have a common level of knowledge at the
beginning of the course, avoiding the need to spend time teaching fundamentals. The training
courses will thus be able to provide more hands-on experience using the instruments. The
result of the CRP will be DL modules consisting of CD-ROM disks that contain training
information about specific topics. The DL modules will work on a common computer
platform and have a common format. The topics will include electronic circuits, power
supplies, preamplifiers, spectroscopy amplifiers, analog to digital converters, and
multichannel analyzers. Such instruments are essential for liquid scintillation counters and
radio-immunoassay (for nuclear medicine), and for nuclear spectrometers (environmental
monitoring).
Development of improved sources and imaging systems for neutron radiography
Neutron Radiography has been used at many reactors centres in R & D and for non-
destructive testing. However, there is a need for optimisation of the neutron beams and the
detection technique. The facilities in some of the institutions in developing Member States are
not fully utilized due to various problems like: optimisation of resolution and intensity; right
type of detecting / imaging technique; lack of expertise; and need of trained manpower for
operation, utilization & maintenance. The objective of the CRP is to promote the building of
bilateral collaboration between developing and developed laboratories. It will also help to
train young workers in developing and designing new instruments and using them effectively,
solving some of the problems of developing institutions. Activities in the CRP will assist in
the understanding and development of new imaging and beam optimisation techniques to
improve the utilisation of neutron radiography, attracting more users for long term
programme sustainability.
Applications of dense magnetized plasma
Dense magnetized plasma (DMP) sources are of high interest in nuclear fusion energy
research as a potential means for fusion power reactors and also as intense neutron/proton
sources for plasma research related to non-power applications. Dense magnetized plasmas can
be generated by various types of devices, including pinches, focuses, plasma accelerators,
open switches, sparks, hollow cathode discharges, etc. They are expected to be compact, less
expensive and technologically demanding than machines pursued in today's mainline fusion
programmes, and good sources of ionizing radiation. Based on recent advances in individuallaboratories, dense magnetized plasma research has now reached a stage where large benefitscan be obtained from a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on "Dense Magnetized Plasmas".
Specifically the CRP will focus on new technologies for DMP drivers for use in fusionresearch and industrial applications that require high efficiency neutron and X-ray generation, development of driver/chamber interfaces, target chamber design considerations includingtarget positioning, as well as selective and combined target irradiation by various types ofionising radiation.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition
Selection for greater agronomic water-use efficiency in wheat and rice using carbon
isotope discrimination
Drought and soil salinity are major constraints to sustainable agricultural productivity in
many parts of the world. Around 1500 million ha worldwide of dry land or rain fed
agriculture are already affected by salinity, and the problem is increasing annually. An
integrated approach to the management of water, nutrients and crops is required if the full
potential of dry land cropping systems is to be realised in a sustainable manner. Plant
genotypes characteristically differ in their tolerance to abiotic stress factors such as drought,
salinity and limited nutrient supply. These genotypic differences can be exploited to mitigate
the effects of stress, particularly in situations where external inputs of resources such as water
and fertilizer are restricted due to economic or other factors. Genotypes with superior
resources-use efficiency are required, especially in harsh environments. Carbon-13 isotope
discrimination can assist in identifying crop cultivars with high agronomic water use
efficiency. This method provides an integrated measure of the response of photosynthetic gas
exchange to environmental variable such as water availability and salinity. The main
objective of this CRP will be to evaluate different strategies for using carbon-13 isotope
discrimination as a selection tool for higher yielding rice and wheat genotypes under drought
and saline conditions. The project will be implemented in 2003 and preference will be given
to scientists and institutions in both developing and developed countries with experience in
the use of the carbon-13 isotope discrimination technique, so that the CRP can be integrated
with on-going experiments and available resources. Multi-location testing sites will be
selected in consultation with CIMMYT for wheat and IRRI for rice for development of
effective selection strategies for improvement of crop production under drought and saline
conditions.
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Physical mapping technologies for the identification and characterization of mutated genes
contributing to crop quality
The improvement of quality traits in food and industrial crops is one of the most important
goals in plant breeding and is gaining more and more attention. Improved crop quality is
considered to be of great economical value for both developed and developing countries and
in the case of nutritional quality it will have a significant positive effect on human health.
This applies in particular to regions, which suffer malnourishment. A constraint to improving
quality in agricultural crops is a lack of understanding of the basis of trait gene manipulation.
This CRP will address the problems associated with physical placement of a gene or gene
complex in a chromosome. The work plan will apply the technology involved in accessing the
genetic and physical position of quality genes in various crop genomes. It will build towardsaccelerating crop breeding programs through the application of physical mapping andcomplementary genomic approaches, and the characterization and utilization of inducedmutants for improvement of crop quality with the objective of increasing agriculturalsustainability, food security, economic stability, and alleviating local quality-related foodproblems.
Effects of mutagenic agents on the DNA sequence in plants
Modern breeders and farmers can tap into a widely broadened diversity through mutation
induction techniques to improve their crops. The impact of induced mutations on crop
improvement programs is reflected in more than 2200 entries in the IAEA’s database on
officially registered mutant varieties (MVD), whereof about 3 quarters are direct mutant
varieties mainly derived from treatment with gamma rays. In contrast to data on the potential
of mutation techniques very little is known about the effects of the different mutagenic agents
on the DNA sequence in plants. In particular detailed knowledge is missing on the category of
changes a certain mutagen is causing (point mutations, size of deletions, translocations,
inversions) as well as on the frequency of these changes. Data on the effect of mutagens,
however, will substantially facilitate mutational analysis of plant traits, which is regarded as
one of the most efficient approaches for identification and isolation of agronomically
important genes. Additionally this information will be extremely helpful to the plant breeder
to identify a successful dose for treatment of his material. This CRP will utilize mutation
techniques principles, genetic and cytogenetic methods of mutation frequency evaluation and
genomics high-throughput techniques to address these questions of paramount importance to
mutation oriented breeding programs.
Insect and Pest Control
Improvement of Codling Moth SIT to facilitate expansion of field application
Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a key pest of pome (e.g. apples, pears, etc.) fruits in more
than 70 countries, and its control currently requires the use of large quantities of insecticide.
However the development of resistance to insecticides, including several of the new
generation of insect growth regulators, and ever lower insecticide residue limits to protect
consumers are making codling moth control increasingly difficult. The objectives of this CRP
are to improve the application of the sterile insect technique (SIT) and inherited sterility (IS)
for codling moth control and its integration with other environmentally friendly control
methods to expand its use in field control applications and reduce insecticide use. The
expected outputs of this CRP are:- a) the improvement of the cost-effectiveness of rearing,
release and distribution of moths; b.) the development of standards for quality of moths and
mating competitiveness; c) the improvement of the understanding of codling moth genetics
for developing genetic strains; d) the improvement of the knowledge of populations and
release strategies; e) the improvement of the currently available monitoring techniques and f)
the improvement of the understanding of combinations of SIT with other techniques.
Improved and Harmonized Quality Control for Expanded Tsetse Production, Sterilization
and Field Application
The recent Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC)
provides a mechanism within which SIT will be one of the major components of an integrated
area-wide approach to the establishment of tsetse fly-free areas. Currently worldwide tsetse
production is 1/40 of the projected requirement in 2006. To achieve this objective it is
essential that quality control (QC) measures suitable for the expanded production be in place.
Therefore, improved QC methodology has become a top priority. Improvements in QCmethodology will help to ensure the attainment of these production goals and improve qualityof rearing, minimize production costs and generate trained QC and production staff requiredto successfully produce flies and monitor their quality and suitability for release. Theproposed CRP is designed to address these issues.
Molecular Technologies to Improve the Effectiveness of SIT
The application of the SIT in integrated pest management programmes continues to increase.
However, efficiency can still be considerably enhanced when certain components of the
technology are improved, such as the development of genetic sexing strains. Recent major
advances in the ability to create transgenic strains of pest insects open the possibility to utilize
molecular approaches for SIT strain improvement. This CRP will develop and evaluate these
new strains to a level where a decision can be made as to their suitability for use in large scale
SIT programmes. The CRP is not restricted to these developments in a particular pest species
but it will instead focus on the application of the technology in a variety of key insect pests.
Food Quality and Safety
Testing the efficiency and uncertainty of sample processing for analysis of food
contaminants
The objective of the CRP is to strengthen the capability of national food control laboratories
for testing pesticide residues and food contaminants by determining the efficiency of various
sample processing equipments and estimating the uncertainty of sample processing. The
reliability and accuracy of an analytical result is mainly influenced by the random errors of
sampling, sample processing and analysis. Laboratories wishing to be accredited according to
ISO 17025 have to estimate the uncertainty of their measurements and estimate the
uncertainty budget for the whole process, which should include sample processing.
Insufficient information is available on the stability of the analytes during the homogenisation
of the sample. Presently there is no internationally agreed procedure for testing the efficiency
of sample processing. The results of this CRP should lead to simple and practical internal
quality control procedure to determine the efficiency of sample processing, validation of
sample processing methods and equipment, typical uncertainty values for sample processing
of representative commodities, and information on the stability of pesticides under processing
conditions. It will facilitate the compliance of laboratories with the new requirements of ISO
17025 and thereby promote testing compliance with Codex Limits according to current
international requirements.
Irradiation to ensure the safety and quality of prepared meals
There is an increasing demand for prepared meals, often marketed under frozen condition, to
meet the requirements of developing countries. This CRP will address the use of irradiation
to ensure microbiological safety and shelf-life extension of prepared meals to be marketed
either at refrigeration or ambient condition instead of frozen, without compromising the
microbiological safety and with sufficient shelf life to meet market requirements. Validated
methods for microbiological determination of food and validated procedures for irradiation,
process control, sensory evaluation to ensure the safety and quality of food will be employed
throughout. While there are ample data on the effectiveness of irradiation as a sanitary and
phytosanitary treatment for individual food commodities, there is little information available
on the effectiveness of irradiation on a complex mixture of food such as prepared meals. This
CRP should lead to a broader database on the effectiveness of irradiation on a more complex
mixture of food and to widen the horizon of the application of food irradiation. Such data
will be important for governments in developing countries to re-evaluate the current methodsof marketing prepared meals under conditions prevailing in most developing countries.
HUMAN HEALTH
Nuclear Medicine
Comparative evaluation of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for radiosynovectomy
Radiosynovectomy, particularly of the knee joint using beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals
offers significant and long-lasting relief from pain and other symptoms in patients with
rheumatoid arthritis and haemo-arthrosis by ablating the synovial lining of the knee joint by
radiation. The procedure is simple and extremely cost-effective in patients suffering from this
chronic disease and requiring long-term treatment with costly analgesics and other
supplementary medications. A number of beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals like 166Ho,
153Sm, 186Re, 165Dy and 90Y are currently being used in this procedure. The objective of theproposed CRP is to evaluate and compare the efficacy and toxicity of theseradiopharmaceuticals and identify the most suitable and cost effective agent forradiosynovectomy, especially for use in the developing countries.
Role of Diamox Cerebral Perfusion SPECT in the differential diagnosis of Dementia
Dementia is a major clinical problem. There are two major causes of dementia, e.g., neuro-
degenerative and of vascular. While there is no valid therapeutic method for neuro-
degenerative dementia, correct and early diagnosis of vascular dementia may help in the
institution of appropriate therapeutic measures leading to slowing or arresting the progress of
the disease. Clinically and with morphological techniques, such as MRI, it is often difficult to
distinguish between the two entities. It is well known that agents such as acetazolamide can
be used to determine the “perfusion reserve” of the brain. Stress Cerebral perfusion studies
following pharmacological interventions with drugs such as acetazolamide, adenosine or
dypiridamol may be able to differentiate patients of dementia of vascular origin from those of
neuro-degenerative origin. The test may also help in the monitoring and evaluation of such
patients following therapy. Although the concept of stress cerebral perfusion SPECT appears
highly attractive and logical in the management of patients with dementia, currently the
available clinical data in medical literature is scanty. A multi-centre study to accumulate a
large volume of data is therefore indicated in order to verify this hypothesis and establish its
role in routine clinical practice.
Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy
Comparative cost assessment of teletherapy modalities
Institutions using both cobalt and linear accelerator teletherapy machines will be requested to
analyze their acquisition, maintenance and repair costs data for some years, according to an
agreed standardized formula, related to patient throughput and “down-time”. Factors such as
available budget, national infrastructure for support of these technologies will be related to
the patient treatment costs. The results of the CRP will provide guidance on the necessary
budget provision to ensure sustainability of these two competitive technologies for
teletherapy.
The role of teletherapy supplementary to intraluminal high dose rate (ILHDR)
brachytherapy (BT) in the palliation of advanced oesophageal cancer
A previous IAEA study on 232 patients has demonstrated the efficacy of fractionated ILHDR
BT in the palliative management of dysphagia. A pilot study has shown no additional
morbidity on 30 patients treated with ILHDR BT plus teletherapy against that seen in 30
patients treated by ILHDR BT alone. It is anticipated that in excess of 180 patients will be
needed to refute or demonstrate an advantage for the addition of teletherapy. This CRP is
open to radiotherapy institutions where ILHDR BT using microsource Ir-192 and teletherapy
(cobalt and/or linac) and simulation (or CT planning) are available. The centres will need to
agree to provide in excess of 20 patients with advanced Mo or M+ oesophageal squamous
carcinoma per year to the study. Only raw data will be required; all analysis will be performed
at a selected Technical Contract centre.
Resource sparing treatment of head and neck cancer
Cancer of the nasopharynx is relatively common in N. Africa and S.E. Asia. Clinical
protocols advocated are based on radiation therapy. The classical radiotherapy protocol of
daily fractionation to the primary region and involved nodes requires good imaging,
immobilisation, and treatment planning and delivery. Even with this, these protocols have
seen a large number of innovative modifications using altered fractionation schemes
[accelerated or split-course or hyper-fractionation], local primary boosts [High dose rate
(mHDR) brachytherapy or conformal 3-D radiotherapy (CRT) or stereotactic radiotherapy
(SRT)] and concomitant chemotherapy (using different agents, dosages, schedules and
duration. No standard protocol has yet been devised for homogeneous groups of patients with
similar stage, histology and grade. Evidence-based analyses of the current modifications of
practice have not been performed. Resource-sparing protocols are of value in the endemic
regions. The CRP will explore clinical protocols utilising well planned and executed
conventional teletherapy with or without a local boost using mHDR, CRT or SRT in the
management of nasopharyngeal cancer. The patient selection will be advanced T3/4, N_all,
M0 patients. Therapy dose and concomitant chemotherapy administered will be decided at
the first research co-ordination meeting to achieve the consensus. Suitable participants
should have available computer tomography imaging, immobilisation, treatment planning,
block-shaping or multileaf collimation, and a means of achieving a discrete volume boost.
Each advanced country applicant institution will be paired with one or more developing
country with the ability to execute the protocol. These will undertake guidance for clinical
and physics quality control of treatment as well as supervising higher degree theses.
Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics
Development of techniques at SSDLs for the dissemination of absorbed dose to water
standards
The Agency has published a new Code of Practice (Technical Reports Series No. TRS-398
(Dec. 2000), based on the quantity of absorbed dose to water with the objective of achieving
uniformity, consistency and better accuracy in radiotherapy dosimetry. A key stage in this
process is the standardization of procedures for the calibration of ionisation chambers at
Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories (SSDLs) in terms of absorbed dose to water.
The objective of the CRP is to assist SSDLs develop the necessary techniques needed for the
realization and dissemination of the new quantity to end users in hospitals, thereby providing
calibrations that yield the most accurate results available to meet modern standards. Methods
for calibrating ionisation chambers wil be designed and further developed through the CRP.
Development of procedures for in vivo dosimetry
Treatment verification plays an important role in Quality Assurance (QA) programmes for
radiotherapy. It is a powerful tool for the ultimate check of the dose delivered to patients at a
radiotherapy department. Three complementary systems exist; these include record and verify
systems (R&V), portal imaging and in vivo dosimetry. R&V and portal imaging are linked to
the selection of the treatment parameters at the irradiation machine and verify patient
positioning during treatment, radiotherapy field placement and the use of beam modifying
accessories. However, in vivo dosimetry verifies the overall process of dose delivery to the
patient. Small dosimeters are placed on the patient in the treatment field to measure the
entrance and/or exit doses from which a dose to tumour is derived. In vivo dosimetry is useful
to detect systematic errors at treatment centres as well as errors for individual patients or
treatment sessions. The Agency encourages the use of in vivo dosimetry as a QA tool in
radiotherapy departments. This CRP aims at optimising the methodology for setting-up in
vivo dosimetry systems in developing Member States.
Nutritional and Effects of Contaminants on Human Health
Isotopic and complementary tools for the study of micronutrient status and interactions in
developing country populations exposed to multiple nutritional deficiencies
This CRP on nutrition addresses the need to develop effective strategies to combat micro-
nutrient malnutrition in developing countries using isotopic and nuclear methods. The major
objectives of the CRP are to extend the use of nuclear and isotopic tracer methods to measure
micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Vitamin A, I, Se, Cu) status and evaluate micro-nutrient interactions in
chronically undernourished populations and to train at least one nutrition professional or
biomedical scientist from each participating centre leading to the award of PhD degrees by
the local universities. This project will also help evaluate interventions done to improve
micronutrient status in developing country populations.
The causes and consequences of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)
There is evidence that size at birth is related to various neurodevelopmental outcome and
physical growth in childhood. The major determinants of IUGR are nutritional (as reflected
by low gestational weight gain, low pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and short
maternal statue. The consequences of IUGR are associated with impaired
immunocompetence, increased morbidity and mortality in infancy and growth deficits,
persisting into adulthood. The problems to be addressed are: nutritional and other factors
contributing to “small-for-gestational-age” birth weights; morbidity and mortality of fetuses
that have suffered from growth retardation in populations from different cultural backgrounds
studied under a harmonized protocol; impact of socio-economic disparities on pregnancy
outcome and social habits (smoking, alcohol) among others, which have major implications
for public health.
The objective of this CRP is to study IUGR, which is highly prevalent in most developing
countries and is considered as a major public health problem. The CRP will utilise nuclear
and complementary techniques for body composition and nutritional status monitoring.
Impact of ageing on human energy and macro- and micronutrient metabolism and
requirements
Small increases in physical activity and/or small weight losses can have considerable
metabolic effects (e.g. lowering the incidence of glucose intolerance and diabetes). In older
individuals, energy requirements are very variable and tend to be more activity – than age-
related. The problems to be addressed are: the influence of physiological and pathological
factors in older subjects on the demand for dietary protein, amino acids and energy; use of
body mass index (BMI) and energy turnover as indicators of chronic energy deficiency
anticipated in poor population segments in developing countries. The objective of this CRP isto study the impact of weight losses or gains on the overall health of the elderly in relation tothe incidence of morbidity and mortality.
Correlation of toxic element atmospheric deposition data with diseases
Airborne emission of toxic elements due to various anthropogenic activities causes pulmonary
and other element-related diseases. It is important, therefore, to identify the sources and
evaluate the fate of these contaminants with the objective of improving populations’ health.
The objective of the CRP is to study the effects of airborne toxic elements on human health
by investigating relationships between metal atmospheric deposition data and epidemiological
data. The CRP will link epidemiological knowledge with the data on atmospheric toxic metal
deposition. The metal deposition data will reflect industrial activities, the local circumstances,
and also long-range transported pollutants. The CRP will focus on health-related information
(mortality, pulmonary disease, cancer incidence, causes of death, etc,) and help explain the
observed data. The obtained relationships between atmospheric deposition and
epidemiological data will give basis for health risk evaluation.
WATER RESOURCES
Isotope Methodologies for the Protection and Management of Surface water,
Groundwater and geothermal Resources
Nuclear and isotopic techniques for the characterization of submarine groundwater
discharge (SGD) in coastal zones
The estimation of submarine groundwater discharge is increasingly being recognised as an
important factor in the understanding and sustainable management of coastal aquifers in many
highly populated areas of the world. In addition, in those areas where groundwater
contamination (e.g., organics, metals, radionuclides) has occurred, SGD is being recognised
as a significant pathway for these elements to enter the near shore marine environment.
Estimation of groundwater fluxes into the marine environment is complicated because direct
measurement is not possible by conventional means. Measurement of a range of isotopic
tracers at the aquifer-marine interface provides the possibility to produce integrated flux
estimates of discharge not possible by other non-nuclear methods. A focus of the CRP will be
on SGD in the Mediterranean Sea, which is a particularly vulnerable marine environment to
fluxes of contaminated groundwater. The outcomes from this CRP will be of direct relevance
to the management of coastal aquifers and coastal zones.
Design criteria for a network to monitor isotope compositions of runoff in large rivers
Practical applications of isotope techniques in the water sector and related environmental
studies require a global scale reference data for isotope concentrations in precipitation and
other components of the hydrological cycle. The Agency has collected and managed a global
network for isotopes in precipitation and provided these data to all Member States. In
addition to applications in hydrology, this data set is increasingly being used in climate and
climate change modelling that are issues of concern to all Member States. As rivers contain a
significant proportion of water in the hydrologic cycle that is continually renewed, large-scale
river systems effectively integrate climate and hydrological processes at an annual time scale.
Isotope composition of runoff in large rivers, in relation to other hydrological components,
provides information on basin-integrated hydrological processes such as water origin and
residence times, snowmelt processes, surface-groundwater exchange, evaporation-
transpiration partitioning, precipitation variability, and climate/land use changes. These data
are also a powerful diagnostic tool for constraining global circulation and basin or
continental-scale hydrological models. An operational global network of isotope monitoring
of large river systems can provide reference data for climate change studies, basin scaleanalysis of rainfall-runoff relationships, and, together with isotope data from precipitation,can enhance the use of isotopes for water resources management. The objective of the CRP isto develop the design criteria for long-term monitoring of isotopes in river flow. These criteriaare likely to include the locations and density of monitoring stations, sampling procedures,frequency of sampling and isotope species to be analysed PROTECTION OF THE MARINE AND TERRESTIAL ENVIRONMENTS
Measurement and Assessment of radionuclides in the Marine Environment
Nuclear and isotopic studies of the El Niño phenomenon in the ocean
The objective of the CRP is to investigate the El Niño phenomenon in the marine
environment using nuclear and isotopic techniques, to contribute to better understanding its
past behaviour and to predict possible scenarios in the future. One of the most important
parameters in determining the climate on Earth is the temperature record of the surrounding
ocean. It is believed, therefore, that surface seawater temperature and its coupling with
atmospheric processes is the most important phenomenon in the long-term climate record.
Recently El Niño has been the most important environmental problem affecting the climate of
the Pacific region and has significant local effects lasting up to several years with important
consequences on fish populations and rainfall, including the formation of cyclones. The CRP
will co-ordinate efforts in the use of nuclear techniques for studying isotope records in corals
and seawater with the aim of deriving past temperature records in the Pacific Ocean. For this
purpose, analysis of natural (210Pb, 226Ra, 228Ra, Th and U isotopes) and anthropogenic (14C )
radionuclides will be carried out in coral and seawater samples collected in the Pacific region
using radiometrics and mass spectrometry techniques (ICPMS, Accelerator Mass
Spectrometry). These analyses will enable to develop absolute chronology for corals going
back several hundreds of years, so the temperature records obtained by analysis of δ13C and
δ18C in corals can be developed for the same time period. Such isotopic records will enable to
look for El Niño effects in the past, to better understand its characteristics and predict ocean-
atmosphere coupling in the future.
Nuclear applications to determine bioaccumulation parameters and processes used for
establishing coastal zone monitoring and management criteria
Within coastal pollutant monitoring programmes at both the national and regional level, many
Member State institutions use bioindicator organisms as a tool for monitoring changes in
water quality. While these pollution sentinel species have proven extremely useful in serving
as an early warning system for the presence of many contaminants such as heavy metals,
radionuclides and pesticides, accurate interpretation of the biomonitoring data they produce is
often difficult to achieve because of the lack of adequate understanding of the biological and
environmental parameters which control bioaccumulation of the contaminant in the organism.
Parameters such as contaminant uptake and excretion rates, and the many variables which
affect them, i.e., temperature, salinity, season, sexual state are often unknown and are difficult
to measure in the field. However, the use of radiolabelled contaminants under controlled
laboratory conditions offers a rapid and cost-effective method for making the required
measurements. The CRP aims to co-ordinate efforts in using state-of-the-art experimental
radiotracer techniques to assess the bioaccumulation parameters in potential bioindicator
species in order that biomonitoring data on contaminant levels and their variability over time
are properly interpreted. Such information is vital for establishing proper coastal zone
monitoring and management criteria.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL APPLICATIONS
Radiochemical Applications
Development and evaluation of Tc99m labelled small molecules using Tc99m nitrido and
carbonyl moieties.
Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals account for nearly 80% of diagnostic nuclear medicine
procedures worldwide. Tc-99m agents are available for imaging almost all of the important
organs of the body. Until now, much of the chemistry of Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals
development has focused primarily upon the [Tc(O)]3+ core. Based on this moiety, several
bifunctional chelating ligands (i.e., N3S or N2S2) have been synthesized and used for labeling
molecules of biological interest. The advent of the new, low-valent, [Tc(CO)3]+ metal core
and of the [Tc(N)PXP]2+ (X = N, S, or O) metal fragment have introduced a new avenue for
the Tc99m labelling of biologically active compounds. The versatility and inherent in vitro/in
vivo stability of the [Tc(CO)3]+ and [Tc(N)PXP]2+ metallic moieties warrant further research
efforts into the design and development of radiopharmaceuticals of this type. Radiolabeling
with these new fragments has achieved the level of a well-established technique, thus the
appropriate choice of biologically active molecules and new ligand frameworks for efficient
preparation of labeled conjugates remains to be an area largely unexplored with vast potential.
The complementary nature of these novel techniques allows for the radiolabeling of
biomolecules that have not been considered thus far, to be labeled with Tc-99m. For example,
molecules such as m-IBG, fluoro-uracil, ubiquidine, nitroimidazoles or even glucose might be
of interest. The new CRP intends to develop Tc99m labelled small molecules of biological
interest using these novel strategies and evaluate their potential usefulness
Radiation Processing, Radiography and Radiotracer Applications
Controlling of degradation effects in radiation processing of polymers.
Ionizing radiations (gamma rays, electron and ion beams) are known to be very efficient in
modifying the molecular weight, surface and bulk properties of polymers through its
degradative effect. A number of experimental factors are known to affect the occurrence and
yield of radiation induced degradation chemistry of polymers. Further work into
understanding of how these factors can be manipulated in order to control degradation and to
achieve degradation under lower radiation doses is warranted. The treatment by irradiation of
natural polymers from agricultural, forest and fishing industries provides important
possibilities for industrial development, particularly for many developing countries. Radiation
induced oxidation together and simultaneous chain scission can be used beneficially in the
reclamation of waste consumer plastics. The CRP is being launched with the objectives of
developing methodologies for better controlling and enhancing radiation induced bond-
breaking process in both natural and synthetic polymers. It is anticipated that through
collaborative and cooperative research efforts of the participants, materials with new or
enhanced properties will be produced and processability of the polymers will be improved. It
will eventually provide better utilization of radiation processing as a clean and energy
efficient alternative to conventional methodologies.
Gamma industrial process tomography.
Gamma process tomography as part of real time imaging techniques for flow pattern
visualization inside vessels is important for troubleshooting and optimising multiphase
industrial processes. Gamma process tomography is complementary to radiotracer and gamma
sealed source techniques used for diagnosing industrial process units. In process engineering,
gamma transmission and emission tomographic applications consist mainly of the inspectionof packed columns, bubble-columns, multiphase flows, fluidised beds and porous media.
The objective of the CRP is to test and validate gamma process tomography for diagnosingindustrial multiphase complex processes. Gamma and X-rays transmission and emissiontomography will be developed further under this CRP. The CRP will help developingMember States in introducing advanced radioisotope technology for optimising theirindustrial processes.
RADIATION SAFETY
Radiological Protection of Patients
Dose reduction in computed tomography (CT) while maintaining diagnostic confidence
Computed tomography (CT) is a high dose radiological procedure. The frequency of CT is
rapidly increasing in both the developed and developing countries. Patient doses, both
collective and individual, have shown an increasing trend not only because of increased
frequency but as a result of the changing pattern of use of CT and choice of excessive
exposure factors by the users. Image quality is related to patient dose. There is a growing
realization that image quality in CT often exceeds the level needed for confident diagnosis
and that patient doses are higher than necessary. This is due to the fact that increasing
exposure factors do not result in blackening of images; rather better quality images are
obtained. At present the choice of exposure factors is seldom related to the diagnostic
question. There is a need to study image quality variation with body size, establish the level
of image quality where diagnostic confidence can be met, explore body parameters which can
help in adjusting exposure factors. The CRP has the objective of identifying ways of
reducing patient dose while maintaining diagnostic confidence, involving the development
and verification of methodologies by which CT exposure technique can be optimised for
individual patients.
Evaluate quantitatively and promote patient dose reduction approaches in interventional
radiology
Radiation doses delivered to the skin of patients from complex fluoroscopically guided
interventional procedures can be very high and some have resulted in severe injuries to
patients. Dose monitoring equipment for such procedures is seldom available and physicians
are unaware of the doses and harm that can be delivered. The CRP has the objective of
identifying ways of reducing patient dose by evaluating quantitatively the contribution of
various parameters to patient dose, and by raising the level of awareness about the doses
delivered to patients from procedures performed using different types of equipment in
individual centres. This will involve developing and verifying methodologies to estimate
doses at individual centres and to provide tools that will provide information necessary to
understand and implement dose reduction techniques.
Avoidance of unnecessary dose to patients while transitioning from analogue to digital
radiology
Increasing numbers of X-rays are being taken digitally to improve patient care. Digital
radiography started as an expensive technology, and thus there has been a delay in its
adoption in many countries. Now, with costs decreasing, there is greater momentum towards
switching over to digital radiological systems, in particular the computed radiography. Recent
experience has shown that there is a need to consider many factors in order to avoid
unnecessary radiation doses to the patient. Those who have only worked with analogue
radiological system do not, in many cases, understand all factors that need to be taken into
account. There is a need to work out the details of those factors which result in unnecessarypatient doses. The CRP has the objective of achieving patient dose reduction whilemaintaining image quality.
MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Technologies for Disposable Radioactive Waste Management
New Developments and Improvements in Processing of Problematic Radioactive Waste
Streams
Many specific and some routine waste streams exist which can be considered as
“problematic” for treatment and conditioning by conventional techniques. These include
waste containing different organic components, toxic or chemically aggressive constituents,
radionuclides with specific properties (high mobility, high chemical activity, volatile
elements, etc.), other waste not appropriate for direct immobilization (e.g. spent organic ion
exchange resins), etc. For such waste application of conventional treatment and conditioning
options may not be efficient and appropriate in terms of economy, safety and performance
characteristics. In many cases such wastes are stored awaiting appropriate treatment and a
conditioning solution. The objectives of the CRP are to encourage and to co-ordinate R&D
work on characterization and management of such problematic waste types, to facilitate
exchange of information and technological experiences on new developments in the area, to
identify particular specific waste types which require special approaches and innovative
technologies to be applied for conformity with modern safety and economic requirements,
both for operation and for final waste products.
Characterization and Performance Studies and Demonstration in Underground Research
Laboratories of Swelling Clays as Engineered Barriers of Geological Repositories
The objective of this CRP is to help developing Member States learn how to characterize and
evaluate swelling clays for use in engineered barrier systems of geologic repositories.
Swelling clays placed between the excavated rock and the waste containers in a repository
can mechanically fill the open volume, buffer the chemistry around the container, and retard
radionuclide migration. This project will assist developing Member States in selecting,
within their territory, suitable swelling clays to be used as engineered barriers; developing
skill and learning material characterization techniques; and developing their own concept to
integrate the characterized clay in a national repository project. Resources and competence
provided by the Network of Centres of Excellence will facilitate the transfer of knowledge
and technology to developing Member States, by allowing training and development of
competence and – in some cases – helping them to develop laboratories equipped for swelling
clay characterization studies. At the end of the CRP, participating Member States should be
able to identify and characterize swelling clay that is suitable for use in a geologic repository.
NUCLEAR SECURITY
Addressing Illegal Activities Involving Nuclear and Other Radioactive Materials
Improvement of technical measures to detect and respond to illicit trafficking of nuclear
material and other radioactive materials
The detection of and responding to illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials
include screening vehicles and individuals at borders to: a) detect smuggling of these
materials; b) locate, measure and characterize the source of radiation, and c) fully characterize
any confiscated material. Currently available instruments used for the field measurements arenot optimised for this purpose and may not detect shielded plutonium and highly enricheduranium. In addition, confiscated radioactive materials need to be characterized bynon/destructive and destructive analysis. To accomplish this, the analytical methods availableneed improvement and international collaboration is needed to enhance the use of presentlyavailable data on nuclear material processes and uses. The CRP should provide research anddevelopment results that will: - a) improve the detection capability and performance of handheld and portable isotope measurement devices, including the technical and functionalspecifications for such devices: b) standardise procedures to examine suspicious packages andto assess the hazard of confiscated material, and c) develop recommendations and guidelinesfor and the establishing of a network of analytical laboratories to be available for MemberStates to obtain the required nuclear forensics analysis.

Source: http://www.cchen.cl/mediateca/proy_coordinados/CRP.pdf