Improving carbon‑ion radiation for children's brain tumors
Optimizing Carbon Ion Therapy for Pediatric CNS Tumors
This project aims to make carbon‑ion radiation safer and more precise for kids with brain tumors by improving how doctors calculate and deliver the dose.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167595 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work that combines advanced physics and biology to make carbon‑ion radiation safer for children. The team builds computer models that map how radiation dose and ionization (LET) vary inside the brain and links those maps to lab tests of how cells and tissues respond. They will refine models of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) to better predict where healthy tissue might be harmed and to guide treatment planning. The goal is to enable more targeted carbon‑ion treatments that kill tumors while reducing long‑term damage to developing brains.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors who might be candidates for carbon‑ion radiation therapy or advanced radiotherapy planning.
Not a fit: Patients whose care will not involve carbon‑ion radiation (for example those treated only with conventional X‑ray radiation, surgery alone, or systemic therapy) are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow stronger tumor control with less harm to healthy brain tissue, lowering the risk of serious late effects in childhood cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Carbon‑ion therapy has been used in thousands of patients internationally over the past two decades, but experience in children is limited and methods to predict biological effects remain under development.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eley, John G. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Eley, John G.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.