1. Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany)
2. Sheffield Hallam University (UK)
3. Centre de Lutte Contre Le Cancer Leon Berard (France)
Typically, radiotherapy patients are positioned supine, with a gantry rotating around them to deliver treatment from various angles. However, the UPLIFT approach focuses on treating patients in an upright position (upRT), allowing them to rotate in front of a fixed beam. This technique may yield clinical benefits while optimizing space and reducing costs—both critical in expanding access to advanced treatments like particle therapy, which demands high operational costs and substantial equipment. Upright positioning could improve patient comfort and provide anatomical and physiological advantages, such as minimizing respiratory motion.
The primary goal is to develop an optimized clinical workflow for upright Proton Therapy using CNAO’s fixed beamline. This role involves exploring the integration of a new upright positioning system within the workflow at a carbon ion center also, with access to a new PT chair system set to be installed at CNAO in 2025. This setup provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the commissioning steps for implementing such a system in Proton Therapy.
Tasks:
Please note that, the PhD degree for CNAO candidates is awarded by the University of Heidelberg (UHEI: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg). As part of the PhD program, candidates will also spend additional time at both the University and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg.
Name, surname: María Plana
Where are you from: Spain
What were you studying:
B.Sc. in Physics, University of Groningen (Netherlands), specializing in Particle Physics.
M.Sc. in Physics, Heidelberg University (Germany), specializing in Computational Physics. My master’s thesis, “Validation, Application and Evaluation of MonteRay’s Treatment Planning System for VHEE-RT,” focused on Monte Carlo dose-engine benchmarking and Very-High-Energy Electron Radiotherapy treatment-planning studies.
I chose this project to combine my background in computational treatment planning with the innovative concept of upright particle therapy. The transition from horizontal to upright positioning introduces new challenges in imaging, patient setup, and workflow design—areas where physics and clinical practice meet directly.
I aim to develop, validate, and optimize end-to-end workflows for upright proton therapy, in close collaboration with medical physicists, engineers, and radiation oncologists at CNAO. Through joint efforts within the UPLIFT network, I also expect to contribute to shared methodologies and knowledge exchange among European research centres working on innovative particle-therapy approaches. I hope that my work will support CNAO’s upcoming installation of upright treatment systems and the broader clinical adoption of compact, fixed-beamline proton facilities.
What motivates me most is seeing how physics can make a real difference in people’s lives. I find it rewarding when the work goes beyond simulations or numbers and becomes something that actually helps in a clinical setting. It’s that connection between science and people that gives purpose to this work.
