The proposed Research Group is created to carry out research, development and innovation activities in the field of Medical Physics, Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Instrumentation in Medicine, and whose main lines to be developed are the following:
- Clinical and physical dosimetry.
- In vivo dosimetry.
- Clinical applications in Brachytherapy and external beam Radiotherapy.
- Development of Monte Carlo techniques for clinical applications.
- Instrumentation for detection and dosimetry with ionising radiation.
- Design of applicators for use in radiation oncology.
- Study and design of solutions in the field of proton therapy.
The research activity of the members of this group can therefore be divided into a number of sections:
- The Radiation Detector Technology Laboratory develops its research activity in all technological aspects related to the reading, conditioning, processing and transmission of data from both ionising and non-ionising radiation detectors. These include the development of discrete and integrated front-end electronics for the conditioning of signals from photomultipliers and photodiodes, the design and implementation of systems for the acquisition and processing of digital data from radiation detectors and the transmission of data in both electrical and optical media. The application of these developments focuses on experiments in experimental nuclear physics, particle physics and medical physics, as well as on the technology transfer of those useful in the industrial sector.
- Algoritmos de cálculo de avance de dosis basados en modelos. At present, thanks to a research agreement signed between La Fe Hospital, the University of Valencia and the company Nucletron-Elekta, La Fe has the ACE system integrated into the Oncentra Brachy planner at the facilities of the Radiation Oncology service. This system, a pioneer in Spain, represents one of Nucletron-Elekta's main commitments in the field of high-rate brachytherapy dosimetry. Furthermore, Professors Facundo Ballester and Javier Vijande are members of the joint AAPM-ESTRO-ABG working group in charge of the study and characterisation of these systems, so the synergy between the clinical work carried out at La Fe with the use and development of this system and the theoretical study carried out by the UV professors will allow for a long-term study aimed at replacing the current dosimetric formalisms.
- Characterisation of electronic brachytherapy systems. As an example of electronic brachytherapy systems, it is important to mention the Esteya system, which is the result of a collaboration between La Fe Hospital, the UV and the company Nucletron-Elekta. A full characterisation is currently being developed using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Other electronic brachytherapy systems, such as Intrabeam systems, are also being studied by this research group.
- Study of new algorithms for the treatment of prostate tumour lesions using permanent brachytherapy implants. A dosimetric correction system is currently being developed at the UV with the aim of being implemented within a real planner.
- Development of planning systems based on Monte Carlo codes. A major effort is currently underway in the field of UV computing to develop Monte Carlo codes that can be implemented within a planning system.
- Renewal of TSR-398. Under IAEA mandate, the UV is to carry out the Monte Carlo simulation and the corresponding clinical measurements of several ionisation chambers under different radiation beams.
- Customised systems for data acquisition and processing.
- High-speed digital design.
- Study and characterisation of electronic brachytherapy systems and renewal of TST-398.
- New data transmission systems.
- Characterisation of Model-Base Dose Advance Calculation Algorithms in the field of high-rate brachytherapy.
- Signal integrity and power distribution
Theoretical studies for the improvement of signal integrity (reduction of coupling and electromagnetic emission in high-speed digital transmission systems. Study of power distribution schemes to improve the quality of digital signals.
- Low noise electronic design
Design of low-noise analogue circuits.
- Characterisation of electronic brachytherapy systems
Characterisation of electronic brachytherapy systems using Monte Carlo techniques. The response of commercially available ionisation chambers will then be calculated in order to obtain the correspondence factors that will allow their use in clinical practice.
- Advanced dose calculation algorithms
Using Monte Carlo simulations and the ACE system, to which the group has access thanks to the Elekta-La Fe-UV collaboration, we will proceed to locate systems where the formalism currently used in high-rate brachytherapy treatment planning is no longer valid.
- Study of new algorithms for the treatment of prostate tumour lesions
Once the development of effective algorithms has been completed, the necessary computed tomography-ultrasound fusion-strain techniques will be implemented. They will then be implemented in a commercial planning system and clinically verified.
- TSR-398 renovation
The following beams will be studied: 6 MV, 12 MV, Esteya, HDR & LDR brachytherapy source; the chambers of PTW: Soft X-Ray Chamber Type 23342, 23344 and 34013, Farmer Chamber Type 30010, 30011, 30012 and 30013, Semiflex Chamber Type 31010, 31013 and 31021, Roos Chamber Type 34001 and Advanced Markus Chamber Type 34045.
- Development of Monte Carlo code-based planning systems
The first step consists of migrating to C++ CUDA. Next, the numerical techniques needed to use it as an inverse scheduling algorithm will be improved. The final step would be to include it in a planning system and verify it in clinical practice.
- High-speed digital design
Design of printed circuit boards for high-speed digital electronics.
Contributors
- Jose Pérez Calatayud - La Fe University Hospital (Valencia)
Blasco Ibáñez Campus
C/ Dr. Moliner, 50
46100 Burjassot (Valencia)
