Investigating imaging modalities to treat cancers.
The medical radiations group is involved in the investigation and translation of various imaging modalities for the diagnosis of various cancers, and of novel radiation modalities to treat cancers. The group consists of research expertise across medical imaging, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy – all playing specific roles in diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up of cancers.
Radiation therapy is used in treatment of approximately 50% of cancer patients and contributes towards 40% of cancer cures. These days it is often used as part of multimodality treatment in combination with surgery, chemotherapy or even immunotherapy, therefore improving patient treatment outcomes even more.
Our research
The research of our group is multifaceted and includes:
- preclinical radiobiological studies into head and neck cancers and their treatment response based on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) status, and
- investigation of the role and behaviour of clonogenic cancer stem cells during fractionated radiation therapy.
Other research includes development of a proton beam line on a SAHMRI cyclotron for radiobiological experiments using proton beam; as the novel state-of-the-art radiation therapy beam modality currently being developed in Adelaide and in Australia.
In the area of nuclear medicine and theranostics, we are investigating the use of novel alpha emitting radionuclides to target cancer cells in a patient’s body; known as targeted alpha therapy.
Our group is renowned for world-class radio-biological modelling of radiation interactions with cells and cancers to predict biological outcomes post irradiation.
Other areas of research include development of new dosimetry and microdosimetry detectors to measure radiation dose at a cellular level. In collaboration with the Future Industries Institute, we’re also looking at the implementation and use of metallic nanoparticles (such as gold) as radio-sensitisers in radiation therapy for cancer, with the aim to maximise the damage to cancer cells while protecting healthy tissues.
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Contact us
Medical Radiations
Mawson Lakes Campus Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095 Australia
