Our main areas of work are:

  • To conduct and publish experimental research into the effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation to inform and improve health risk assessment;
  • To conduct and publish epidemiological analyses on radiation risk, especially in relation to UK occupational ionising radiation exposure risk to improve quantification of health risks in humans;
  • To provide a source of expert knowledge on the health risks and biological effects of ionising, non-ionising and optical radiation to facilitate the development of appropriate radiation protection standards and advice, working with government, national and local organisations, international bodies and others;
  • To provide a biological dosimetry service to assess individual radiation exposures;

Overall, the department aims to produce and publish high quality research relevant to radiation protection. This research output and the staff involved ensure the related UKHSA advisory functions are of international standing.

Cellular Biology Group
The cellular biology group conducts cutting-edge biological research to understand how human health is affected by factors external to the body, such as radiation, chemicals and viruses, as well as to understand how health deterioration also occurs independently of external influences.
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Cytogenetics and Pathology Group
UKHSA provides a specialist Chromosome Dosimetry Service to evaluate people known or suspected of being overexposed to ionising radiation. The specialist staff have extensive and long-standing experience, having provided biological dosimetry advice and services to thousands of customers representing all the major industry sectors as well as to users in the fields of education, research and medicine.
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Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers Group
Protecting and improving human health is at the heart of the biological research being carried out in the Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarkers group. More specifically, we are trying to better understand the mechanisms by which acute or protracted ionising radiation exposure either of natural or medical origin interact and affect cells and individuals.
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Neurobiology Group
The aim of the Neurobiology Group is to study the effects of environmental hazards on the epigenetics of brain disorders.

Brain disorders encompass neurological (i.e.: Alzheimer's disease, sleep disorders, chronic pain, epilepsy) and neuropsychiatric (i.e.: Depression, anxiety, affective disorders) conditions and diseases. Most of them are multifactorial with interplay between environmental and genetic factors. One cellular mechanism underlying the link between environmental and genetic factors is epigenetic mechanisms.
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Radiation Epidemiology Group
The Radiation Epidemiology group carry out high quality research and provide advice on the health effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation and service provision, the output is peer reviewed scientific papers that serve to build the evidence base for health protection measures and to strengthen UKHSA's scientific reputation and development of health protection services and expert advice.
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