1. RaySearch (Sweden)
2. Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic)
3. Uniwersytet Jagielloński (Poland)
Spot-scanning proton and heavy ion arc (SHArc) is an emerging topic in the field of ion beam therapy. Other than the conventional ion beam therapy approach, which uses a small number of intensity modulated beams to treat the tumour, SHArc leverages the increased flexibility that comes with irradiation from a large number of beam directions. This can produce a more conformal treatment for certain indications, such as oropharyngeal cancer, and may enable better targeting of radio-resistant tumour regions by focusing the region of high linear energy transfer in hypoxic tumour regions. While gantry-based arc delivery has been developed for protons, for heavy ions, gantries are rare, because of their large size and enormous cost. Upright patient positioning will bring SHArc treatment planning concepts to clinical feasibility. There are, however, multiple challenges to be solved when rotating the patient in front of a fixed beam for SHArc delivery.
The project will tackle these challenges, utilizing state-of-the-art infrastructure available at the GSI. The TRiP98 in-house treatment platform includes a dedicated infrastructure for SHArc plan optimization, including strategies for efficient beam delivery via spot and energy layer reduction techniques. This platform will be further advanced within the DC 5 project to tailor it to the parameter space of upright treatments. Further, a small-scale demonstrator system, already connected to the dose delivery system at GSI’s Cave M, will enable to test the developed ideas in practice. Secondments are planned with Raysearch laboratories in Stockholm, Sweden, to investigate advanced SHArc planning concepts, as well as with the Czech Technical University in Prague for QA of SHArc therapy and the Jagellonian University for investigating PET as a possible SHArc verification technique. Overall, the project offers a fruitful research environment for research in SHArc therapy, enhanced by further collaborations within the SHArc community.
I am He Zixin, a PhD candidate at the Technical University of Darmstadt under the supervision of Dr. Lennart Volz and Dr. Christian Graeff. I obtained my bachelor and master degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. My UPLIFT project takes place at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research. My 8 years in academic research at the biomechanical laboratory at McGill University were an excellent preparation for my current role.
As part of UPLIFT, I am working on the optimization of treatment planning and dose delivery for upright carbon arc radiotherapy. As an engineer, I am fascinated by complex systems and radiotherapy is a technology that involves an incredible number of hardware and software components. To fulfil my project goals, I endeavour to understand the interplay between the different components and map the interdependencies of all the various systems that make arc radiotherapy possible. This will provide me with insight on where inefficiencies may lie and help me optimise the utilisation of the equipment while ensuring positive patient outcomes. Being part of this project fills me with pride because I know for sure that my engineering work will unambiguously be used for the betterment of the human condition.
I am a frugal and resourceful person. I love working with my hands, regardless if it is at work, doing chores, or some DIY repair and maintenance. I once spent 4 hours tensioning wheel spokes on my bicycle to absolute perfection, only to abuse them by setting speed records on the poorly-kept farm roads that I take on my commute from Darmstadt to GSI. I will happily do the tensioning again. Otherwise, I occupy myself with government paperwork, worry about my savings and future life goals, and spectate the slow enshittification of the internet and social media. If you are in the Darmstadt/Frankfurt area, I am up for trading bad investment advice over a Radler or an Apfelwein.
