Project description
Stretching the frontiers of radiotherapy to treat cancer
Glioblastoma and other highly resistant tumours remain largely untreatable with conventional radiotherapy, as even the most advanced particle therapies are limited by damage to healthy tissue. The ERC-funded HI-FLASH project aims to harness the recently discovered FLASH effect, where ultra-high dose-rate irradiation spares normal tissue while destroying tumours. Pioneered at GSI, the project will use ions heavier than carbon, including neon, in preclinical models, employing 3D-printed modulators for precise treatment. By comparing survival, toxicity, and tumour control across conventional and ultra-high dose rates, HI-FLASH seeks to expand the therapeutic window, potentially transforming treatment options for patients facing the deadliest and most therapy-resistant cancers.
Objective
Charged particle therapy is generally acknowledged as the most advanced type of radiotherapy (RT). Particle therapy patients are treated either with high-energy protons or 12C-ions, but there is a general agreement that heavier ions would be highly beneficial in treating extremely resistant, hypoxic and lethal tumors, such as glioblastoma (GBM). Unfortunately, the use of very heavy ions is constrained by their excessive normal tissue toxicity.
A way to enable very heavy ion therapy with acceptable toxicities is to make use of the recently discovered FLASH effect. This effect occurs when ultra-high dose-rate (UHDR) electrons or protons are used and results in significantly sparing the normal tissues whilst maintaining tumour control. Although the molecular mechanism is still unclear, the FLASH effect considerably broadens the therapeutic window and has proven to be a game-changer in radiotherapy. While my group at GSI has pioneered the first demonstration of the FLASH effect with high-energy carbon ions, UHDR use of even heavier ions can be safe and very effective for very resistant tumor.
GSI is the only facility world-wide where the FLASH effect can be explored with ions heavier than carbon. In fact, the GSI synchrotron can accelerate all ions for H to U up to very high energy and intensity, and my group has developed a unique technology to perform 3D conformal UHDR irradiation using 3D-printed range modulators. We will perform UHDR irradiation experiments with 20Ne-ions using a GBM rat model and will compare survival, toxicity and tumour control with the same ion at conventional dose-rate and with UHDR protons as a reference. If successful, HI-FLASH will pave the way for the use of heavy ions in cancer treatment, improving outcomes for patients with highly resistant and lethal tumors like GBM.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
64291 Darmstadt
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.