Radiation Biology and Cellular Toxicology
Humans and animals are constantly exposed to radiation and chemical toxicants. How do they damage cells? How do cells protect themselves and repair damage? What are the health consequences of exposure? You will learn what and how we know and what we do not know.
The course is an introduction to radiation biology and toxicology, with focus on cellular and molecular effects and health protection. It is based on lectures, laboratory work and tasks. You will gain theoretical as well as practical knowledge and learn how to carry out and interpret experiments with DNA damaging agents.
Information for admitted students autumn 2024
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
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Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
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Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
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Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Welcome to autumn term 2024 at BIG! Open here, read and let us know if you have any questions.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registered on the correct course. If you do not register then your place can go to a reserve. However, it is important that you only register on courses that you do intend to take, or you are taking a place from another student.
Registration period for autumn 2024
Note! In order for us to efficiently be able to help all students, before registering make sure to carefully read our information to admitted students.
- Registration for all courses opens 5th August and closes Sunday just over a week before the course starts, apart from courses starting at beginning of term. Registration for these courses closes already August 21!
- Traineeships, research traineeships and degree projects are open for registration throughout the semester (see more information in the link above).
If you have trouble registering, please contact our student office latest on the last registration day. Otherwise you will loose your place on the course.
Reserve place
If you have been given a reserve place you may be admitted if someone declines their place. In which case you must confirm that you want the place by attending the reserve roll call for each course. The exception is traineeships, research traineeships and degre projects where an apporved work plan is required to be admitted, for more information see the link below.
More information about your studies with us
On our website you will find more information about your studies with us.
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
The course is an introduction to radiation biology and toxicology, with focus on cellular and molecular effects and health protection. It is based on lectures, laboratory work and tasks. You will gain theoretical as well as practical knowledge and learn how to carry out and interpret experiments with DNA damaging agents.
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Course structure
The course is both theoretical and practical. The topics will include:
- Radiation physics and radiation chemistry, microdosimetry, dose concepts, medical use of radiation
- Toxic substances, absorption, level of exposure, use of cytotoxic drugs (cytostatics) and other forms of cancer treatment within the clinic
- Genome organization and function, endogenously and exogenously formed free radicals, DNA damage, DNA adducts, mutations, epigenetic effects, carcinogenesis and cell transformation, repair of DNA damage, mechanisms of cell death, Adverse Outcome Pathway concept (AOP)
- Methods for measuring cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutations.
- The importance of radiation quality for the biological effect.
- Biological dosimetry, introduction to epidemiology, radiation accidents and their effects on health, risk perception. Protection issues against radiation and chemical substances, comparative risk assessment.
Modules
Embedded in the course is a two-week European course also for PhD students and early career researchers financed by the project RadoNorm (www.radonorm.eu) titled CELET: Cellular and genotoxic effects of high and low LET ionising radiation – introduction to radiation biology. You can read more about this part of the course under "More information" further down this page.
Teaching format
The course consists of lectures, laboratory exercises, group discussions, study visits, project work and seminars. Participation in laboratory exercises, group discussions, project work, seminars and group education associated with this is compulsory.
Field exercises will include excursions to areas with naturally occurring ionizing radiation where measurements will be caried out and samples of radioactive minerals collected.
Learning outcomes
A list of the learning outcomes can be found in the syllabus. Please find the link to the syllabus on the right side of this page.
Assessment
Assessment of knowledge takes place through written and/or oral examination.
Examiner
Andrzej Wojcik (MBW)
E-mail: andrzej.wojcik@su.se
Tel: +46 8 16 1217
Lovisa Lundholm (MBW)
E-mail: lovisa.lundholm@su.se
Tel: +46 8 4140
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
- Eric J Hall, Amato J Giaccia: “Radiobiology for the Radiologist” 8th edition 2018. Wolters Kluwer Health. ISBN 9781975114152
- Patricia Frank, M. Alice Ottoboni “The Dose Makes the Poison: A Plain-Language Guide to Toxicology” 3rd edition 2011, Wiley. ISBN: 9780470381120
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Course reports
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More information
CELET course
Embedded in the course is a 2-week European course for PhD students and early career researchers financed by the project RadoNorm (www.radonorm.eu) titled CELET: Cellular and genotoxic effects of high and low LET ionising radiation – introduction to radiation biology. The aim of CELET is to acquaint students with techniques of studying genotoxic effects of ionising radiation which are of relevance for radon and naturally occurring materials. The course contains both lectures and practical laboratory work. The lectures will focus on various aspects of biological effects of low and high LET ionising radiation as well as on techniques to detect them using cytogenetics and immunogenetics. The interaction of SU and foreign students during the course has been tested on several occasions during an earlier edition of the radiation biology course and has always been highly appreciated by the course participants.
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Contact
Student office- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20C
- Office hours
Mon-Thur: 13.00-15.00
- Irregular office hours
Note! Closed June 11!
Closed for midsummer, June 21, and then stay closed till August 9. We answer e-mails to info.big@su.se all summer.
Study counsellor for advanced level
- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratoriet, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20 C
- Office hours
By request
