Scientific Calendar Event



Description
The call is now closed.

 
Excellence in Medical Physics through Outreach, Workshops, Education and Research for Low and Middle Income Countries (EMPOWER LMICs).

The 2026 ICTP College on Medical Physics is designed to empower Medical Physics in LMICs by achieving Excellence in Medical Physics through Outreach, Workshops, Education, and Research, thus directly influencing the overall quality of healthcare

The College aims to provide a deep understanding of the fundamentals of medical imaging physics and their practical implementation in the management and operation of complex equipment. Another key aspect of the College is related to medical physics capacity building in developing countries.
 
The College prepares the participants to transfer their knowledge to their colleagues. The participants receive a free compilation of e-learning materials that enables them to organize spin-off activities in their own countries thus creating a solid global network to lay the basics for sustainable growth of the profession in the developing regions.
 
Topics:
Fundamentals of Medical Imaging Physics
  • Radiation sources
  • Digital detectors
  • Radiation dosimetry
  • X-ray imaging – X-ray tubes, generators and imaging detectors
  • Digital imaging– radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy, dental
  • Computed Tomography (CT)
  • Interventional radiology and fluoroscopy
  • Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT):
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Hybrid Medical Imaging (SPECT/CT, PET/CT, PET/MRI)
  • Diagnostic imaging–principles, characteristics, quality, optimization
  • Radiation protection & safety
Speakers
  • L. Bertocchi, ICTP, Italy
  • P. Bregant, Maggiore Hospital Cancer Center, Italy
  • J. Oshinski, Emory University, School of Medicine, USA
  • R. Padovani, ICTP, Italy
  • P. Sprawls, Emory University, School of Medicine, USA
  • M. Stoeva, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  • S. Tabakov, IUPESM, UK
  • S. Tipnis, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
 
Call for Contributed Abstracts: All applicants are encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Abstract templates are available for download here or below under 'Abstract Template'.

 
Grants: A limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. There is no registration fee.
Go to day
  • Monday, 24 August 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Registration and administrative formalities  30'
      • 09:30 Welcome remarks  20'
        Speaker: Renato Padovani, Marco Esposito (ICTP, Italy, ICTP, Italy)
      • 09:50 The contributions of Medical Physics (Imaging) to medicine 50'
        Speaker: All Faculty
      • 10:40 Coffee Break 20'
      • 11:00 Protocols and Code of Practice in Diagnostic Radiology  50'
        Speaker: Franco MILANO (University of Florence, Italy)
      • 11:50 Fundamentals of Dosimetry, exposure indexes and dosimetric measurement in Diagnostic radiology 50'
        Speaker: Franco MILANO (University of Florence, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 The 3E in Diagnostic Imaging 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break 20'
      • 15:10 Diagnostic Radiology sources of radiation - X-ray tubes: Theory, Construction and Specificities 50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 16:00 Diagnostic Radiology sources of radiation - X-ray Generators: Theory, Construction and Specificities 1h0'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
  • Tuesday, 25 August 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 X-ray Fluoroscopy and Digital Fluoroscopic imaging systems 50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 09:50 Digital Detectors in Diagnostic Radiology: Main parameters MTF, SNR, NPS, NEQ, DQE 50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break 20'
      • 11:00 Digital Mammography and Optimization 50'
        Speaker: Franco MILANO (University of Florence, Italy)
      • 11:50 Advanced Mammography applications (Tomosynthesis & Contrast enhanced Digital Mammography) 50'
        Speaker: Franco MILANO (University of Florence, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Medical Physics 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break 20'
      • 15:10 Medical Physics e-Learning and its use in the educational process 50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 16:00 Specificities in using the free LMS software Moodle in MSc programmes  1h0'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
  • Wednesday, 26 August 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Diagnostic X-ray Radiology Digital Detectors 1 50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 09:50 Diagnostic X-ray Radiology Digital Detectors 2 50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break 20'
      • 11:00 AI Lectures: Introduction/basic concepts 50'
        Speaker: Andrea Barucci (IFAC, Italy)
      • 11:50 AI Lectures: Introduction/basic concepts 50'
        Speaker: TBD
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 1 - Informatic Laboratory: AI basic concepts 50'
        Speaker: Alessandro Bombini, (INFN, Italy)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 2 - Informatic Laboratory: AI basic concepts 50'
        Speaker: Giulia Ciacci (Meyer, Italy)
      • 16:00 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 3 - Informatic Laboratory: AI in MRI 1h0'
        Speaker: TBD
  • Thursday, 27 August 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Specific applications and protocols for contemporary CT (Cardiac CT, etc) 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 09:50 Computed Tomography (CT) Optimization 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break 20'
      • 11:00 Principles of image formation in X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 11:50 Multi Detector CT systems 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 CT equipment - physical parameters and Quality Control 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break 20'
        Coffee Break & Poster Presentations
      • 15:10 Round Table on Enhancing the capability of medical physics in the Developing Countries and Discussion on students’ posters 50'
        Speaker: All Faculty
      • 16:00 Round Table on Enhancing the capability of medical physics in the Developing Countries and Discussion on students’ posters 1h0'
        Speaker: All Faculty
    • 19:00 - 21:00
      • 19:00 Welcome Reception 2h0'
        All Participants are cordially invited to the Welcome Reception
  • Friday, 28 August 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Dose Optimization in Radiology and Fluoroscopy  50'
        Speaker: Franco MILANO (University of Florence, Italy)
      • 09:50 Radiation Dose and Image Quality in Dentistry and CBCT  50'
        Speaker: Franco MILANO (University of Florence, Italy)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Evaluating X-ray tube and generator parameters in Quality Control  50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 11:50 Evaluating Fluoroscopic image quality in Quality Control  50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Practical Quality Control COMPUTER SESSION 1 - Informatic Laboratory (X-ray tube and generator QC)  50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV, Magdalena STOEVA (King's College London, UK & IUPESM, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break 20'
      • 15:10 Practical Quality Control COMPUTER SESSION 2 - Informatic Laboratory (X-ray tube and generator QC) 50'
        Speakers: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM), Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 16:00 Practical Quality Control COMPUTER SESSION 3 - Informatic Laboratory (X-ray tube and generator QC) 1h0'
        Speakers: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM), Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
  • Monday, 31 August 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 International framework of Radiation Protection (RP). Bonn Call-for-Action. 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 09:50 Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Requirements for Medical Exposures 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 IOMP Session 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 11:50 ICTP MSc Programme 50'
        Speaker: Marco ESPOSITO (ICTP, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Practical Quality Control COMPUTER SESSION 4 - Informatic Laboratory (resolution, noise, contrast/detail)  50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV, Magdalena STOEVA (King's College London, UK & IUPESM, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Practical Quality Control COMPUTER SESSION 5 - Informatic Laboratory (resolution, noise, contrast/detail)  50'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV, Magdalena STOEVA (King's College London, UK & IUPESM, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 16:00 Practical Quality Control COMPUTER SESSION 6 - Informatic Laboratory (resolution, noise, contrast/detail) 1h0'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV, Magdalena STOEVA (King's College London, UK & IUPESM, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
  • Tuesday, 1 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 15:30
      • 09:00 Installation Shielding in DR and CT (with calculations and examples)  50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 09:50 Principles of monitoring and setting of procedures  50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Occupational Radiation Protection - International activities 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 11:50 Introducing medical physics to radiologists and radiographers - Methods and Resources : Sprawls resources 50'
        Perry SPRAWLS joning in video conference
        Speaker: Perry SPRAWLS, Magdalena STOEVA (Emory University, USA, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Hospital Practical 1 (CT + MAMMO) 1h30'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
  • Wednesday, 2 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 IT aspects of Diagnostic imaging - PACS, DICOM, HIS/RIS 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 09:50 International Framework on Radiation Protection, Overview of Radiation Protection in Diagnostic Radiology and Implementation of Radiation Protection Programmes 50'
        Speaker: Magdalena STOEVA (Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 10:40 Group Photo  5'
        Group Photo
      • 10:45 Coffee Break 15'
      • 11:00 AI Lectures: AI in Nuclear Medicine 50'
        Speaker: Francesca BOTTA (ASST Settelaghi, Italy)
      • 11:50 AI Lectures: AI in Nuclear Medicine 50'
        Speaker: Francesca BOTTA (ASST Settelaghi, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 1 - Informatic Laboratory: Autocontouring 50'
        Speaker: Daniele RAVANELLI (APSS, Italy)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 2 - Informatic Laboratory: Autocontouring 50'
        Speaker: Daniele RAVANELLI (APSS, Italy)
      • 16:00 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 3 - Informatic Laboratory: Autocontouring 1h0'
        Speaker: Daniele RAVANELLI (APSS, Italy)
  • Thursday, 3 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 15:30
      • 09:00 Diagnostic reference levels generality 50'
        Speaker: Alessandro Michele FERRARA (University of Padua, Italy)
      • 09:50 Dose tracking in Diagnostic radiology I 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Medical Radiation and Pregnancy  50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 11:50 Uterous dose evaluation software 50'
        Speaker: Alessandro Michele FERRARA (University of Padua, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Hospital Practical 2 (CT + MAMMO) 1h30'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
  • Friday, 4 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Introduction to Radiation Protection Audit  50'
        Speaker: Renato PADOVANI (ICTP, Italy)
      • 09:50 Digital Radiography Detectors – QC 50'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Trieste, Italy)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Cone beam CT – QC 50'
        Speaker: Alessandro Michele FERRARA (University of Padua, Italy)
      • 11:50 Special session sharing experience from Regional Organizations: DRL - MEFOMP's reflections on implementing Dynamic DRLs 50'
        Speaker: Mohammed Hassan Kharita (MEFOMP, Qatar)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Special session sharing experience from Regional Organizations: Remote and Automated Quality Control for General Radiography and Mammography 50'
        Speaker: TBD
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Practical Remote and Automated Quality Control for General Radiography and Mammography. COMPUTER SESSION 1 - Info Lab 50'
        Speaker: TBD
      • 16:00 Practical Remote and Automated Quality Control for General Radiography and Mammography. COMPUTER SESSION 2 - Info Lab 1h0'
        Speaker: TBD
  • Monday, 7 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) basic physics and signal generation  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 09:50 MRI systems and hardware  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Characteristics of radionuclides for imaging  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 11:50 Radiation detectors and measurement in Nuclear Medicine  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 MRI – spatial localization 1  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 MRI – spatial localization 2  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 16:00 Gamma camera function and imaging 1h0'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
  • Tuesday, 8 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 MR imaging methods and pulse sequences  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 09:50 MRI: Image characteristics, image detail, noise, and contrast  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break 20'
      • 11:00 Gamma camera performance and image quality  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 11:50 Radionuclide tomographic imaging (SPECT)  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Nuclear Medicine PRACTICAL - Group 1 3h0'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 14:00 Educational Videos summary - Group 2 3h0'
        Perry SPRAWLS joining in video conference.
        
        Characteristics of medical images that determine visibility of body structure and clinical conditions.
        Digital image structure, characteristics, and effects of visibility and clinical applications.
        Medical imaging procedure optimization and the expanding role of medical physicists.
        The learning and teaching process applied to Medical Physics.
        Medical Physics Education Models, Methods, and Resources
        Speaker: Perry SPRAWLS, Magdalena STOEVA (Emory University, USA, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
  • Wednesday, 9 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 MRI Advanced applications  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 09:50 MRI – Image Artifacts and solutions  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Evaluation of SPECT and non-imaging systems  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 11:50 Radionuclide tomographic imaging (PET)  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Nuclear Medicine PRACTICAL - Group 1 3h0'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 14:00 Educational Videos summary - Group 1 3h0'
        Perry SPRAWLS joining in video conference
        
        Characteristics of medical images that determine visibility of body structure and clinical conditions.
        Digital image structure, characteristics, and effects of visibility and clinical applications.
        Medical imaging procedure optimization and the expanding role of medical physicists.
        The learning and teaching process applied to Medical Physics.
        Medical Physics Education Models, Methods, and Resources.
        Speaker: Perry SPRAWLS, Magdalena STOEVA (Emory University, USA, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
  • Thursday, 10 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Fundamental of MRI safety and scanner certification  50'
        Speaker: John OSHINSKI (Emory University, USA)
      • 09:50 Radionuclide dose considerations  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 Artefacts in NM and PET imaging  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 11:50 Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Theranostics  50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS (Medical University of South Carolina, USA)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Principles of Organising a Medical Physics Department and specificities in developing countries  1h0'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 16:00 Principles of Management of Medical Imaging Equipment in Contemporary Healthcare and specificities in developing countries 1h0'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
  • Friday, 11 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Interventional Radiological Equipment – dosimetry and quality control  50'
        Speaker: Renato PADOVANI (ICTP, Italy)
      • 09:50 Interventional Radiological Equipment – selection and installation  50'
        Speaker: Renato PADOVANI (ICTP, Italy)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 AI Lecture: Advanced applications of AI in Diagnostic Imaging and Imaging in Radiotherapy 50'
        Speaker: Michele Avanzo (Centro di Riferimento Oncologico SOC Fisica Sanitaria, Italy)
      • 11:50 AI Lecture: Advanced applications of AI in Diagnostic Imaging and Imaging in Radiotherapy 50'
        Speaker: Michele Avanzo (Centro di Riferimento Oncologico SOC Fisica Sanitaria, Italy)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 1 - Informatic Laboratory: Advanced application of AI in Diagnostic Imaging 50'
        Speaker: Michele Avanzo (Centro di Riferimento Oncologico SOC Fisica Sanitaria, Italy)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 2 - Informatic Laboratory: Advanced application of AI in Diagnostic Imaging 1h0'
        Speaker: Michele Avanzo (Centro di Riferimento Oncologico SOC Fisica Sanitaria, Italy)
      • 16:00 Practical AI COMPUTER SESSION 3 - Informatic Laboratory: Advanced application of AI in Imaging in Radiotherapy 1h0'
        Speaker: Michele Avanzo (Centro di Riferimento Oncologico SOC Fisica Sanitaria, Italy)
      • 16:00 Feedback session of the College 1h0'
        Faculty, to be held in parallel to the AI practicals
  • Saturday, 12 September 2026
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 OPENING SESSION 40'
        International Conference
        EMPOWER LMICs
        Excellence in Medical Physics through Outreach, Workshops, Education and Research for Low and Middle Income Countries
        Speaker: Marco ESPOSITO, Magdalena STOEVA (ICTP, Italy, Medical University Plovdiv, Bulgaria, IOMP Secr. General)
      • 09:40 Medical Physics status in Low and Middle Income countries (LMIC) and the place of medical physicists in LMIC Healthcare 1h0'
        Speaker: Slavik TABAKOV (King's College London, UK & IUPESM)
      • 10:40 Coffee Break  20'
      • 11:00 IAEA Projects 50'
      • 11:50 Invited talks by experts 50'
        Speaker: Christoph BAUMAN (Director Physics Books, Springer Nature)
      • 12:40 Lunch Break 1h20'
      • 14:00 Invited talks by experts 50'
        Speaker: Sameer TIPNIS, John OSHINSKI (Medical University of South Carolina, USA, Emory University, USA)
      • 14:50 Coffee Break  20'
      • 15:10 Early Career session & Women in Medical Physics 40'
        Speaker: Paola BREGANT (ASUGI, Italy)
      • 15:50 Capacity development and networking 40'
      • 16:30 CLOSING SESSION 30'