Developing technologies

Our group's research themes are measurement guided preparation, delivery and follow-up in cancer radiation therapy. We have a challenging translational focus, actively bridging diverse blue skies scientific and clinical research. Our current interests grew from enduring multidisciplinary, collaborative foundations laid participating in and leading European Framework and UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) projects. These were conducted in concert with The Christie's ambitious drive towards providing more effective and technically advanced radiation therapy treatments for its patients.

The primary objectives are to move towards seeing and measuring a treatment as it is given, dynamically in 3D, including during irradiation; to ensure setup and delivery to plan, provide the 4D evidence for tumour targeting and treatment adaptation, and improve understanding of the impact of changing patterns of motion and shape on treatments. Post treatment impact and quality of life are also of increasing interest, following studies of speech, endocrine and cardiac disruption. 

With the help of EPSRC funding for the Metrology Guided Radiation Therapy (MEGURATH) project, we are exploring dynamic optical body surface sensing for positional measurement during irradiation in collaboration with clinical colleagues. We are also investigating sensing synchronous with enhanced cone beam computed tomography (CT) scanning so that the impact of actual rather than assumed external and internal motion and deformations on complex reconstructive imaging and therapy techniques can be investigated.

Through the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) project K021, funded by the New and Emerging Applications of Technology (NEAT) initiative, we are developing and clinically evaluating direct optical data feedback and display to patients, offering them the opportunity to engage with, and potentially contribute to the integrity of, their own treatment. The persistent problem of tumour and organ delineation has been addressed in EPSRC Structure Creation using Limited Point Topology Evidence in Radiotherapy (SCULPTER), focussing on the capture of expert clinical delineation knowledge using 3D statistical shape modelling, and securing an NHS Innovation Award. This research is now being continued through an NIHR funded Scientific Fellowship award and will take a closer look at the correspondence between modelled and real world anatomical deformations.

With the help of an EPSRC Feasibility Account, our group has started speculative research into new regularity and structural parameters needed to characterise the qualities image volumes ranging from the macro-scale, used for tumour and organ at risk delineation, to the micro-scale, such as atomic force and confocal cell microscopy.  Our research continues to focus on improving delivery and therefore efficacy of radiation-based therapy through application of novel technologies.

The Developing Technologies Group is based within North West Medical Physics at The Christie the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe, an international leader in research and development, and a partner in the MCRC