Co-financiado por:
Nome
Monitoring Chamber based on Cherenkov for FLASH beam monitoring and control
Código
CI25-10420 - FLASH-Guard
Entidade Beneficiária
LIP - Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas
Sumário do Projecto
FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is a breakthrough cancer treatment that delivers ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) radiation (>40 Gy/s), significantly improving therapeutic outcomes by reducing damage to healthy tissues while maintaining tumor control. However, a critical barrier to its widespread clinical adoption is the lack of reliable real-time beam monitoring. Conventional ionization-based monitoring chambers suffer from saturation and slow response times, preventing accurate dose control at these extreme radiation intensities.
We propose a novel Cherenkov-based monitoring chamber specifically designed for FLASH-RT. Unlike traditional ionization chambers, Cherenkov emission is prompt (sub-nanosecond), proportional to particle flux, and free from saturation effects. This allows real-time, sub-microsecond monitoring of UHDR beams, enabling precise beam control and ensuring treatment safety.
Our approach replaces existing monitoring chambers in radiotherapy machines with a thin Cherenkov radiator coupled to silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). Geant4 simulations confirm optimal radiator materials: aerogel for electron beams and diamond for proton and ion beams. The system efficiently generates high photon yields, directly correlating with beam intensity. Additionally, the detector provides spatial resolution, allowing accurate beam centering, further enhancing treatment precision.
By solving the fundamental challenges of beam monitoring in FLASH-RT, this innovation ensures controlled dose delivery, prevents overdoses, and facilitates safe clinical implementation. The proposed device represents a critical technological advancement in radiotherapy, paving the way for FLASH-RT to become a standard cancer treatment. Its adoption could lead to more effective, safer, and faster radiotherapy, ultimately improving patient outcomes on a global scale.
Suporte sob
Reforçar a investigação, o desenvolvimento tecnológico e a inovação
Região de Intervenção
...
Financiamento
Custo total elegível
€ 50,000.00
Apoio financeiro da UE
Financiamento p/ LIP
€ 0.00
€ 50,000.00
Apoio financeiro público Nacional
€ 0.00
Datas
Aprovação
Início
2025-10-01
Fim
2026-09-30
Reconhecimentos
All publicity and diffusion materials and acts or activities must mention the collaboration and assistance received from “la Caixa” Foundation and FCT, I.P. To do so, reference should be made to “la Caixa” Foundation and FCT, I.P in the “acknowledgements” section. On Twitter, use @CaixaResearch and #CaixaResearchFundlaCaixa.