( Source- kgi.edu )
KGI Receives Grant for Radiation Research
Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), a member of The Claremont Colleges, has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to further research on the radiation exposure risks associated with low-dose radiation exposure on human health. The three-year project aims to shed light on the long-term consequences of radiation exposure, whether through workplace environments or common cancer treatments. This significant grant, beginning in September, is part of a collaboration between KGI and Los Alamos National Laboratory, which also received a matching grant. The project, titled “AI-facilitated assessment of exosome-mediated bystander effects of low-dose ionizing radiation,” aims to uncover the biological impacts of radiation exposure that have long remained unclear.
AI to Help Understand the Bystander Effect
The research will be led by Animesh Ray, a professor of systems biology and genomics at KGI since 2001. Ray’s team will utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to study the effects of low-dose radiation on human cells, particularly focusing on the phenomenon known as the “bystander effect.” This effect occurs when irradiated cells send signals to nearby healthy cells, leading to DNA damage in the unexposed cells, potentially causing mutations, cell death, or even cancer. Ray emphasized that while some DNA damage can be repaired, in many cases, the damage persists, leading to severe consequences. This phenomenon is particularly important in cancer treatments, where radiation used to remove tumors could unintentionally trigger new cancers.
“Research shows that radiation’s impact extends beyond the directly exposed cells,” Ray explained. “Even unirradiated cells may behave as if they were hit, which can lead to unintended harmful effects.”
Collaborative Efforts to Study Radiation Effects
The KGI research team, which includes students and postdoctoral researchers, will work in tandem with a group of scientists led by Dr. Kumkum Ganguly at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Ganguly’s team will provide the irradiated cells that will be studied at KGI using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing techniques.
The data gathered will be analyzed using novel AI methods, enabling researchers to gain deeper insights into the biological mechanisms associated with radiation exposure risks triggered by low-dose radiation exposure.
“The purpose of the grant is not to solve the issue but to better understand it,” said Ray. He pointed out that current radiation exposure standards were established decades ago, and modern research has lagged behind, despite significant advancements in genomics.
Through this research, KGI aims to contribute to the development of updated guidelines on safe radiation exposure levels, potentially influencing policy standards related to radiation exposure risks in various fields, including healthcare and occupational safety.
