Real-time imaging of radiation dose inside the body
Academic-Industry Partnership for the Translation of a 4D in vivo Dosimetry Approach for Radiation Therapy
['FUNDING_R37'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · NIH-11178117
This project will use tiny sound waves made by X‑rays to image and track the radiation dose delivered to people getting radiation therapy for cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IRVINE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11178117 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a 3D scanner that detects acoustic waves produced when pulsed X‑rays heat tissue, since the wave strength reflects how much radiation was absorbed. The technique, called X‑ray‑induced Acoustic Computed Tomography (XACT), will be combined with pulse‑echo ultrasound so clinicians can see both dose and anatomy in real time. An academic‑industry team at UC Irvine, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and PhotoSound Technologies will develop the prototype hardware and software and refine it under clinical conditions. The work includes designing the scanner, testing imaging performance, and validating dose measurements to support use by medical physicists during treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving external X‑ray–based radiation therapy for solid tumors at participating centers would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Patients receiving non‑X‑ray treatments (such as brachytherapy or some proton therapies) or those with tumors located where acoustic signals cannot be captured may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let treatment teams confirm the actual dose reaching the tumor during each session, improving accuracy and potentially reducing side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical and early device studies have shown XACT can map X‑ray absorption, but applying the method during routine human treatment is novel and still under development.
Where this research is happening
IRVINE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE — IRVINE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: XIANG, SHAWN LIANGZHONG — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- Study coordinator: XIANG, SHAWN LIANGZHONG
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.
Conditions: Cancer Patient, Cancer Treatment, Cancers