Radiation Effects Research Foundation

The Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) is a research facility that studies the medical and biological effects of radiation exposure. It began its work in 1947, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, initially as the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission.1

RERF conducts extensive research, most notably through its Life Span Study, which has enrolled over 120,000 survivors of the atomic bombings (hibakusha). This long-term project investigates the health consequences of radiation exposure, making it an invaluable resource for understanding its effects. The research covers various types of radiation injuries, including burns, mechanical trauma from blast effects, and direct radiation damage from gamma rays and neutrons emitted at the time of explosion.1