Radiation therapy is one of the most important tools we have for treating cancer, but its success depends on delivering the right dose in the right way. To push the field forward and develop new, more effective techniques, we need accurate dosimetry and reliable modeling to guide and refine treatment.
One of the latest advancements in radiation therapy is FLASH radiotherapy, which uses ultra high dose rates to target tumors. Early experiments suggest it can effectively destroy tumors while sparing healthy tissue from damage.
Despite its promise, FLASH radiotherapy is still out of reach for many research labs and clinics due to the specialized equipment it requires. The primary goal of this project is to accurately characterize and model a MultiRad225 x-ray irradiator in tandem with the development of a device which will allow FLASH studies to be performed on this readily accessible machine.
This project involves a variety of different experimental dosimetry techniques, as well as computational simulations using Monte Carlo software.