Objective POFGaRD investigates the use of polymer optical fibres at low radiation doses and will embrace the experiences of the researcher, the host university and the numerous collaborating partners, to formulate a method and fabricate a sensor which is capable of on-line monitoring of gamma radiation dose for a wide range of doses (5Gy to 100KGy) and therefore many potential application areas. POFGaRD is primarily concerned with the development of the dosimeter with the application as an in vivo monitor of gamma radiation, during radiotherapy of lung cancer patients, based on phantom models. The project will characterise PMMA based plastic optical fibres on exposure to low doses of gamma radiation, examining the response and will also address reliability and repeatability issues. Once it has been correctly calibrated as a low dose gamma dosimeter it will then be applied to phantom lung models at MD Anderson Research Centre in Orlando to determine their suitability as radiotherapy dosimeters in lung cancer patients. It will also be used to verify dynamic lung models developed by the Optical Diagnostic and Applications Laboratory at the University of Central Florida. POFGaRD will also contribute to the FP7 INFRA project which is concerned with the development of novel optical fibre based sensors for the real-time identification of radiation exposure for emergency first responders.POFGaRD will also investigate an extension of the above methods to provide a real-time distributed optical fibre low dose gamma dosimeter. This work will be done in collaboration with City University in London and is aimed at providing spatially resolved gamma dosimetry system on a single fibre loop with mm resolution. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologylung cancernatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics Keywords PMMA dosimeter gamma radiation optical fibres sensor Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-2-2.ERG - Marie Curie Action: "European Reintegration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG) Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK EU contribution € 45 000,00 Address NATIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL PARK, PLASSEY - Limerick Ireland See on map Region Ireland Northern and Western Border Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Elfed Lewis (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
