The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced plans to conduct a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on “Safety and Optimization of Radiation Sterilization in Tissue Banking; Studies on Functional Properties of Irradiated Tissue Grafts.”

According to the IAEA:

“To assure safety of patients receiving tissue allografts during surgical treatment, several decontamination or sterilization procedures are implemented during the processing. Irradiation of tissue allografts is one of the developed and widely used methods for sterilization in the world.
Gamma rays, X-rays, and electron beams have been used with doses ranging from 15 to 80 kGy. Controversies exist regarding the optimal dose for sterilization since radiation can evoke numerous changes in tissues structure resulting in its change in functionality. The major aim in the project is to facilitate research and disseminate the results in IAEA Member States to study radiation-induced effects on tissue grafts processed and preserved by different methods. The newly acquired knowledge established from harmonized research methodologies will be useful in providing high quality tissue allografts.

“The research will be done within an operational framework, established and coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The resources available to you from the Agency include a research contract award per year for five years or a research agreement (cost-free) for the same period, and invitations to attend three research co-ordination meetings at the Agency’s expense (usually once every five years). It is anticipated that a planning research co-ordination meeting (RCM) will be held in the second quarter of 2010. The purpose of this meeting will be to finalize the study designs, and interaction of participating centres, especially laboratories and centres involved (or have experience) in radiation sterilization of tissue allografts tissue banking and/or Radiation biology would be invited to participate in this CRP.

“Important tissue allografts to be investigated are: bone, tendon, cartilage, skin, amniotic membrane, vascular grafts, and heart valves.
Irradiated quality testing methods may include: the histological structure of tissue grafts, testing of mechanical properties of bones, tendons, ligaments, fascia, blood vessels and heart valves, testing of osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties of bone grafts on animal models, in vitro and by instrumental methods, testing of collagen degradation of tissue grafts, testing of toxicity of irradiated tissue grafts, testing of water content and water absorption of lyophilized skin and amnion, testing of clinical function etc.”

For more information regarding this CRP, please click the link:
http://files.aatb.org/webfiles/bulletinfiles/CRP%20E31006%20Radiation%20sterilisation%20in%20Tissue%20Banking.pdf
The deadline for receipt of completed signed forms (see information sheet) is Friday, January 29, 2010.

Prof. Vassileva is elected as a Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (50 members, 4 in medicine) in 2003 and as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Bulgarian National Academy of Medicine in 2007.

Vassileva’s research interests include corneal transplantation, medical and surgical retina, uveitis, histopathology of the eye, experimental ophthalmology, external disease and cornea, eye banking, pediatric ophthalmology, ROP, herpetic eye disease, ocular ischaemia, epidemiology and preventive ophthalmology, intraocular lens implantation, glaucoma – treatment and surgery, exfoliation syndrome.

Vassileva has published over 300 scientific articles and is author and co-author of 16 monographs and textbooks. She has initiated and founded scientific and teaching institutions at home and co-founded scientific societies abroad. Vassileva has created the first Eye Bank in Bulgaria; she served as a member of WHO Program Advisory Group on blindness prevention, at present is co-chairperson for Europe of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). In 1993 she created Bulgarian Eye Foundation “Sight for All” and organizes numerous screenings and prevention programs in eye health. Since 1996 Vassileva is appointed National Consultant in Ophthalmology at the Ministry of Health and is chairing the State Commission for Certification in Ophthalmology. She was nominated as a Member of the State Accreditation Commission in Medicine at the Council of Ministers in 2003.

Prof. Vassileva chairs scientific and advisory committees of national and international organizations, participates in numerous boards and associations, and takes part in many international and foreign ophthalmologic events. She has organized and chaired many ophthalmologic congresses, sessions and courses at home and abroad.

Vassileva has received numerous honors, including the Certificate of Appreciation IAPB 1999, Honorary Membership of Russian Ophthalmologic Society, 1999, Bulgarian Physician of the Year 2003 Gold Award, Certificate of Appreciation, International Eye Foundation 1991-2001, Honorary Award Panhelenic Ophthalmologic Society 2004, Signum Laudis pro Scientiae Meritis for the Best Research Work, Field of Medicine SMU 2006, Best Poster Award at SOE/AAO Vienna 2007.

She has delivered numerous invited lectures and keynotes at ophthalmologic congresses abroad and more than 50 at local and international events in Bulgaria.

His prior responsibilities include Medical Director of the National Lung Hospital Center, Chief of Department in the Ministry of Health, Executive Director of the National Healthcare Finance Administration and Executive Director of the National Health Insurance Fund. Since 2003 Dr. Penkov is the Executive Director of Cytonet Sofia, EOD.

Dr. Penkov has publications on clinical and health management subjects.

His prior responsibilities include Secretary General of the Sofia Municipal Government, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the National Privatization Agency, Chief Counselor in the Judicial Department of the Bulgarian Parliament and Deputy Chief of the Center for Government Administration to the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria, President of the Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration since 1999.

Mr. Dyulgerov is a founding member of the Euro Atlantic Transplant Alliance and the Bulgarian Association of Tissue Banks.