From Detection to Decision: Dr. Marc Mendonca on Closing the Radiation Response Gap

You can detect radiation in seconds. Understanding what it does to the human body can take far longer. This gap defines a leading challenge of radiation biology, the field that studies how radiation interacts with living systems. In this episode, Dr. Marc Mendonca, Associate Vice President of Research at the University of Central Florida, joins host Dr. Arun Seraphin to discuss what problems radiobiologists are attempting to solve, and how these problems shape the realities of warfighters, first responders, cancer patients, astronauts, and civilians. The conversation highlights persistent limits in assessing how much radiation an individual has actually absorbed, how their body will respond, and why so many sectors rely on better understanding these effects. It also examines the operational strain created by the “walking well” in mass exposure scenarios. Mendonca outlines key research gaps in the field, including radiation’s influence on the immune system, the mechanisms behind radiation-induced cancer, the need for effective post-exposure mitigation, and the development of faster, field-ready diagnostic tools. Watch ETI’s “Tech 101: Radiation Biology” seminar: https://www.ndia.org/events/2026/5/19/tech-101-radiation-biology  For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technology, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #RadiationBiology #EmergingTech #PublicHealth #EmergencyResponse