Ponente
Descripción
Studying the effects of neutrons on the human body is a topic of great current interest. Neutrons can be regarded as a double-edged sword: depending on the context, they may pose a health risk (in occupational environments, space missions, etc.) or serve as a therapeutic tool, as in treatments such as Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT).
Despite the significant scientific interest in understanding the biological effects induced by these particles, a major limitation persists: the number of neutron facilities where biological experiments can be performed remains very scarce, and many of those currently in operation are approaching closure. Against this background, DONES represents a key opportunity, as it will enable radiobiology experiments focused on the irradiation of biological samples and the subsequent assessment of the radiation-induced damage.
Although these activities are classified within the Complementary Experiments of DONES, a comprehensive strategy for both the irradiation and the processing of biological samples within the facility is currently under development. Based on the group's experience gained at other international neutron facilities — such as the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source — the most suitable irradiation rooms for biological experiments at DONES have been identified. Moreover, a dedicated radiobiology laboratory ("Bio-DONES lab") has been designed, which can be located within the Main Building and will house all the instrumentation and materials required for post-irradiation sample processing.
In conclusion, the present work demonstrates the current potential of DONES for radiobiology studies and outlines future perspectives.