Government leaders, scientists and other experts will convene next week at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Scientific Forum, #ScientificForum, to discuss how the IAEA Rays of Hope initiative is expanding access to life-saving cancer care.
The two-day event, Rays of Hope: Delivering on the Promise of Cancer Care, will take place on the margins of the 70th IAEA General Conference. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, together with government leaders, will open the Forum at 09:30 CEST, Tuesday, 15 September, in Board Room D of the C Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC). Discussions at the Forum will centre around four technical sessions: Role of Radiation Medicine; Strengthening Access to Cancer Care; Establishing Sustainability of Cancer Care through Anchor Centres; and Scientific and Technical Innovation through Research and Development. The event will be live streamed.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming nearly 10 million lives in 2024. In the same year, 20.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer — a number projected to reach 35 million annually by 2050, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Forum will showcase the Rays of Hope initiative's impact in establishing and strengthening safe, secure and effective medical uses of radiation, expanding access to diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, advancing research and innovation, and in forming strategic partnerships that mobilize resources for sustainable cancer care worldwide.
The Forum will also feature a photo exhibition near the Coffee Corner on the fourth floor of the C Building, illustrating key achievements of the Rays of Hope initiative since it was launched in 2022.
Journalists interested in interviewing speakers are invited to submit their requests to the IAEA Press Office.
Accreditation
Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC or journalists who have already obtained accreditation for the IAEA’s General Conference need no additional credentials.
Journalists without accreditation must send copies of their passport and press ID to the IAEA Press Office by 14:00 CET on Monday, 14 September.
We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna.
Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check.