用于癌症放射治疗之典型医用加速器概略图示（图片由史丹佛直线加速器中心提供）A schematic diagram of a typical medical accelerator used in cancer radiotherapy. (Image courtesy of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.)
放射线与生物物质之交互作用为本课程中心主题。本课程欲提供广泛知识以了解不同辐射线如何释放能量，包括次级辐射的产生和表现、辐射线如何影响细胞、不同辐射线为何有非常不同型态的生物效应。其它主题包括：辐射对生物系统（含DNA伤害、体外细胞生存模组、哺乳动物系统）的影响。课程含盖放射治疗、辐射症侯群，致癌机转，另提及地球和外太空放射源及辐射保护相关事宜。课程中会以最新的文献中的例子作为补充讲解。The central theme of this course is the interaction of radiation with biological material. The course is intended to provide a broad understanding of how different types of radiation deposit energy, including the creation and behavior of secondary radiations; of how radiation affects cells and why the different types of radiation have very different biological effects. Topics will include: the effects of radiation on biological systems including DNA damage; in vitro cell survival models; and in vivo mammalian systems. The course covers radiation therapy, radiation syndromes in humans and carcinogenesis. Environmental radiation sources on earth and in space, and aspects of radiation protection are also discussed. Examples from the current literature will be used to supplement lecture material.
