Key experts from the IAEA and around the world will brief the media on Wednesday, 4 December on how a unique nuclear technique is saving lives. Know as tissue banking, the technique irradiates tissue grafts and bone to be used for transplants and in treating burn victims.

The IAEA has helped establish 66 tissue banks around the world and has invested millions of dollars in the program. Over 200,000 grafts from donors have been produced for the program. Recently, medical authorities in the United States began looking into adopting similar irradiation techniques following a number of cases of contamination of medical tissue used for transplant.

Briefing the media will be: Mr. Jihui Qian, IAEA Deputy Director General for Technical Co-operation; Mr. Sam Doppelt, President of the American Association of Tissue Banking; Mr. Jan Koller, Secretary of the European Tissue Banking Association and Mr. Fortunato Banaim, President of the Latin America Association of Tissue Banking.

Press arrangements:
Date: Wednesday 4 December at 10:30
Location: Room C-03 (Press briefing room), in the Vienna International Centre

Outside accreditation is possible for journalists with valid press identification cards. For journalists without VIC access please call 2600 - 21273 or 26383.