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.
Keywords
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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.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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64291 Darmstadt
Germany
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