›9th International Microbeam Workshop

The International Workshop on Microbeam Probes of Cellular Radiation Response has been held regularly since 1993. In the past, these workshops have been highly successful in bringing together groups interested in developing and applying micro-irradiation techniques to the study of cell and tissue damage by ionizing radiations. There is continuing interest in the use of microbeam systems, which can deliver beams of different radiations with a spatial resolution of a few micrometers or less, for radiobiological research. For particle microbeams, irradiation with exactly one (or more) particle per cell can be achieved, allowing questions of risks from very low doses of ionizing radiations to be addressed. This issue is particularly relevant for space radiation research, where it is expected that single traversals by heavy ions are experienced by single cells in the human body during space travel. Several microbeams are now in operation, and others are being developed. This Workshop will provide a forum to assess the current state of microbeam technology and current biological applications, and to discuss future directions for development, both technological and biological.