Quick software to estimate organ radiation exposure after a nuclear or radiological incident
Project 1: Deployable Software for the Rapid Assessment of Organ Dose FollowingRadionuclide Intakes
['FUNDING_P01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11308298
This project builds easy-to-use software that helps responders estimate how much radiation different organs received in people exposed during a nuclear or radiological event.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11308298 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you were exposed to radioactive material after a dispersal device, reactor accident, or similar event, this team is making a field-ready app that works with external detector readings to give quick organ-specific dose information. The software uses detailed 3-D anatomical models for adults of many sizes and will be expanded to include children and pregnant females so dose estimates fit different body types. It also models blood circulation and a wider range of radionuclide mixtures to improve accuracy for short-lived or short-range radiations. These triage-level results are meant to guide immediate medical countermeasure decisions and point to when more detailed tissue dosimetry is needed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People of any age, including children and pregnant women, who may have internal contamination from a radiological or nuclear release and can be screened with external detectors are the intended users.
Not a fit: People without any suspected radiological exposure, or those needing very long-term or highly individualized dosimetry beyond triage, are unlikely to benefit from this tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help clinicians and first responders quickly identify who needs urgent treatment and which organs are most at risk after a radiological exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Existing triage software works for average adults and limited radionuclides, so while the basic approach has precedent, this project is novel in expanding to varied body sizes, children, pregnant females, and more complex radionuclide mixtures.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BOLCH, WESLEY E — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BOLCH, WESLEY E
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.