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About the Radiation Safety Program

Our goal is to lead a successful radiation safety program that balances regulatory compliance with support to researchers and clinicians who utilize radiation sources and radioactive material in advancement of the NIH mission.

Contact Your Area Health Physicist (AHP) ​   Staff Directory​​

The Radiation Safety Program (RSP) consists of two complementary branches: the Radiation Management Branch (RMB) and the Radiation Safety Operations Branch (RSOB). RMB primarily manages internal health physics operations and program administration, while RSOB provides field health physics support to the NIH research community, including consultation, laboratory inspections, protocol observations, and regulatory support. 

Together we provide radiation safety guidance, regulatory compliance, and risk management for biomedical and clinical research efforts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn more about the Radiation Safety Program branches:​

Radiation Management Branch (RMB)   Radiation Safety Operations Branch (RSOB)​

Our Services

Analytical Lab service

Health Physicist Consultations

Health Physicists (HP) are the primary resource for all radiation safety needs at the NIH.

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Emergency Response Service

Radiation Safety Training

DS offers specific training for those who interact with radioactive material and/or ionizing radiation-emitting devices in their work at the NIH.

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Bioassay Service

Exposure Monitoring

DS monitors and evaluates radiation doses to ensure radiation exposures to researchers, clinicians, general staff, and NIH visitors are as low as reasonably achievable.

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Rad Mat’l Shipping Receiving Storage

Radioactive Materials Receipt & Storage

DS oversees the receipt and processing of all radioactive materials at the NIH to ensure all packages are handled expeditiously and according to RSP radiation safety protocols.​

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Featured Topics
Policies

We seek to assist the NIH Intramural Research community with managing the health, safety, and environmental risks that may arise while engaging in biomedical, clinical, and translational research efforts that directly support the NIH mission.  

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Training

The NIH Radiation Safety Program requires that all individuals working with radioactive sources receive entry level radiation safety training as well as periodic refresher training. Note that many of the training items pertain to circumstances and license conditions specific to the NIH; therefore, it may not be assumed that this initial instruction has been adequately covered by prior radiation safety training at another institution.

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Radiation Safety Committee

​The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) formulates policy with regard to radiation protection matters in the Intramural Research Program to ensure compliance with Federal regulations, including those of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Radioactive Drug Research Committee (RDRC) is a subcommittee of the NIH Radiation Safety Committee. The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) is responsible to the NIH Director for management and operation of the Radiation Safety Program, as well as policy directives of the RSC.

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Resources

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Radiation Safety Program (RSP) provides comprehensive resources—including the NIH Radiation Safety Guide, expert health physicist consultations, and routine safety training—to manage radioactive materials, maintain exposure levels as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), and ensure regulatory compliance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

​Find answers about NIH Radiation Safety policies, training, authorizations, dosimetry, waste handling, and more.

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Contact RSP

​Get assistance from Radiation Safety Program team for authorizations, trainings, dosimetry, and operation support.

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