In this episode, we explore how nuclear technologies play a crucial role in enabling life-saving cancer treatments. Our guest, Eva Bezak, is Professor of Medical Radiation at the University of South Australia and President of Asia-Oceania Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics. I’ve asked Eva to join me today to find out more about how nuclear technologies for medical applications get developed and used to treat patients across Australia.

Listen in to find out more about:

• a day in the life of a clinical medical physicist,
• what radiation therapy is like for patients,
• why radiation can help treat cancer (while minimising impacts on healthy cells),
• how charged particle beams are improving outcomes for some of Australia's youngest cancer patients,
• how new accelerator-based treatments are developed,
• the links between fundamental nuclear physics research and cutting edge cancer treatment, and
• what's happening here in Australia to make these treatments accessible to patients that can most benefit.

If this episode resonates with you career-wise, check out opportunities to work with Eva via Radinnovate. Eva is Deputy Director of this Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre, which is designed to support industry-linked research opportunities for future nuclear and radiation technology professionals. Full disclosure: ANU is one of the partners involved in Radinnovate (which mostly means I get to run into Eva here on campus from time to time and hear stories about her PhD research at the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility).

EPISODE CREDITS

Guest: Eva Bezak

Host: Liz Williams

Producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)

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This episode is marked as containing explicit content because it discusses what it's like to undergo radiation therapy for cancer treatment, and mentions treatment of specific forms of cancers. This may not be suitable for the youngest listeners.

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This podcast is intended for information and education only. The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.

Acknowledgements:

Liz Williams would like to thank Veronica Taylor for suggesting Eva as a guest on the podcast.