Join us for this sharp, bright QUBIC Seminar Series event.

Sharper Targeting, Brighter Future: Advanced Imaging in Cancer Radiotherapy

Speakers: Dr. Saree Alnaghy (UoW)
Date: Wednesday 20 August, 1pm – 2pm AEST
Zoom: Click here to join the seminar

Abstract:
Radiotherapy, a treatment benefiting half of Australian cancer patients, utilises X-ray image guidance to target tumours with radiation and minimise harm to adjacent organs. Its efficacy, however, is compromised by X-ray image quality and anatomical changes at the time of treatment. Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is limited by the sub-optimal soft-tissue contrast and spatial resolution of energy-integrating flat panel detectors (FPDs) which produce quasi-quantitative CT numbers. Spectral CT with high resolution photon counting detectors (PCDs) could improve tumour delineation by enhancing the soft-tissue contrast, spatial resolution, dose-efficiency, and CT number accuracy.

My research aims to investigate a next-generation imaging system inspired by photon counting technology from the Large Hadron Collider, called LANTERN. LANTERN promises substantial improvements in image quality on standard linear accelerators (linacs), which currently use outdated CBCT. The primary objective is to improve the imaging capabilities of linacs, which currently rely on CBCT that fails to provide sufficient image quality for precise tumour targeting and adaptation to anatomical changes at the time of treatment. By integrating the LANTERN system, we aim to deliver high-quality soft tissue contrast images that are essential for effectively targeting tumours while sparing adjacent healthy tissues, thus reducing potential side effects and improving patient outcomes.

Bio
Dr. Saree Alnaghy is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong’s Centre for Medical Radiation Physics and a Radiation Oncology Medical Physics Registrar at the Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital. Dr. Alnaghy’s research focuses on advancing medical imaging technologies in radiotherapy through quantum technologies. He leads the LANTERN project, which aims to develop an advanced imaging system using photon-counting detectors to enhance tumor targeting and reduce side effects in cancer treatment.