Real-time 3D imaging to check proton radiation placement
3-dimensional prompt gamma imaging for online proton beam dose verification
A new 3D imaging method that watches where proton beams stop during cancer radiation to help protect healthy tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11412587 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you get proton therapy, this project builds a 3D prompt gamma detector that watches the tiny signals emitted when protons hit tissue so doctors can see where the dose lands during treatment. The team will combine new detectors and AI-based image reconstruction to produce live images of beam range, first testing on phantoms and lab models and then at clinical proton centers. The goal is to reduce the extra margins doctors currently add around tumors so less healthy tissue is exposed. Over several years they will refine the system for use during routine treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients receiving proton radiation for tumors (for example brain or tumors near critical structures) at a center offering proton therapy and willing to have additional imaging during treatment.
Not a fit: People not treated with proton therapy, those whose cancers are not near critical anatomy, or those unable or unwilling to travel to a proton center are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let clinicians confirm proton beams hit the tumor as planned, lowering side effects and allowing more precise treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Early prompt gamma and detector studies and phantom tests have shown promise, but fully real-time 3D clinical systems are novel and still under development.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ren, Lei — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Ren, Lei
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.