Southeast Nuclear Medical Center Registers Patent and Files PCT Application for AI-Based Biological Dose Assessment

Development of Korea's First Automated Chromosomal Analysis Technology for Biological Dose Assessment
Rapid Patient Triage, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Radiation Disaster Incidents

Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (Director: Lee Changhoon) announced on the 12th that it has developed the nation's first AI-based biological radiation dose assessment technology and is actively establishing a response system to prepare for radiation accidents.

As the importance of an emergency medical system for radiation accidents increases in the southeastern region, where nuclear power plants are concentrated, biological dose assessment tests using chromosomal aberration analysis have become essential for rapid patient triage, medical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis management in the event of a mass radiation exposure incident.

The institute's research center developed a program that automates chromosomal aberration analysis using artificial intelligence technology to overcome the limitations of conventional testing methods, which are not suitable for large-scale testing. This technology, based on deep learning, is trained on large amounts of data to detect chromosomal abnormalities quickly and accurately. It is an advanced biotechnology that combines two state-of-the-art neural networks into a multi-neural network system, enabling rapid analysis of chromosomal aberrations in samples exposed to radiation and providing a one-stop assessment of human radiation exposure levels.

For the first time in Korea, the institute has completed patent registration and PCT application for its 'multi-artificial neural network-based estimated dose assessment method,' demonstrating its technological prowess.

The Dosimetry Evaluation Research Team is analyzing chromosomal abnormalities using AI-based biological dosimetry technology.

PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application refers to an international patent application. Countries that are parties to this treaty (over 150 countries worldwide) can file a patent more efficiently through a single PCT application, rather than filing individual patents in each country.

Lee Changhoon, Director of the institute, said, "The chromosomal aberration analysis technology using AI can significantly strengthen our ability to respond to radiation accidents and play a key role in establishing a rapid dose assessment and treatment system. We expect it will greatly contribute to protecting the safety of not only residents in nuclear power plant regions but also the general public."

He also stated, "By applying the AI-based biological dose assessment method and strengthening the capabilities of the Radiation Emergency Medical Center, we will establish a regional safety net as a radiation disaster response institution."

Last year, Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences established the 'Radiation Medicine Practical Application Center' with research funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT, equipping itself with an international standard reference survey system for improving the accuracy and precision of dose assessment results, as well as specialized radiation exposure facilities.

Additionally, last year, the institute was recognized as the nation's first KOLAS-accredited institution for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, a method for assessing radiation dose exposure in teeth during radiation accidents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.