Project R-15999

TOLEDO: radioTherapy dOse and LEt Determination with novel scintillatOrs (Research)

Radiation of different kinds has been used in medicine nearly since its discovery, both for imaging (X-rays) and for tumor treatment in radiotherapy. However, it was soon recognized that if not used wisely, radiation can be harmful, making it essential to monitor its delivery closely. Physicists already have a wide range of devices at their disposal to measure with high precision the quantity of radiation delivered to a patient (dose in Gray, Gy). This project aims to shift the focus from that dose to another crucial aspect of radiation: radiation quality. Radiation quality refers to the extent of biological damage radiation causes as it passes through living tissues. It has long been shown that not all radiation types are equivalent in this respect. For example, 1 Gy of neutrons can cause as much damage to living tissues as 20 Gy of 6 MV photons. This is quantified using the radiobiological effectiveness (RBE). While RBE can be of concern for low-energy photons, it is of particular importance for proton therapy, where protons have a variable RBE that changes along their path in tissue. This project proposes developing a detector capable of measuring both the dose of radiation and a quantity closely related to RBE: linear energy transfer (LET). This detector will be based on a combination of different scintillators and will be calibrated according to the LET of the radiation, offering a valuable tool for assessing radiation quality in clinical settings.

01 December 2025 - 30 November 2029