Pillars

DCU is organized around focused pillars that connect methodological innovation with clinical relevance, enabling high-quality dosimetry research across modalities.

Central Dosimetry Team

The Central Dosimetry team consists of members of the Medical Physics team and senior researchers.

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The Central Dosimetry team ensures the availability of in-depth dosimetry knowledge and coordinates (inter)national collaboration and networking. This team can set the priorities, provide support for grant applications for projects incorporating dosimetry, provide internal and external dosimetry training and coordinates contract research related to dosimetry.

Systemic Therapy

For dosimetry, the focus of this pilar is currently on PSMA ligands and antibodies, DOTATATE and CAIX.

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For example, we work on clinical dosimetry for therapy with ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA, and pre-therapeutic dosimetry using PET imaging and PSMA labeled with isotopes such as ⁶⁸Ga, ¹⁸F, but also longer lived isotopes such as ⁸⁹Zr. We perform cell and pre-clinical research to better understand the mode of action of both the diagnostic and therapeutic radiotracers. For this, we also focus on application of alpha-emitters, as well as on radiobiological effects and immune response. This knowledge can then be used for translation into clinical application.

Radioembolization

This pilar focuses on dosimetry in radioembolization procedures.

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The main importance is the use of optimized imaging procedures based on high-resolution MRI and CT imaging. For this purpose, ¹⁶⁶Ho microspheres are used that are visible with both MRI and CT and can therefore achieve accurate dosimetry. But the application of 90y microspheres is also being investigated in relation to dose-response. For dosimetry in radioembolization procedures, identification of local inhomogeneities in the absorbed dose is important, as this information can be used to optimize the treatment plan and define the microsphere administration sites. We aim to enable real-time dosimetry during imaging-guided interventions to optimize the patient-specific treatment.

Photodynamic Therapy

Dosimetry in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is still in its infancy, but very relevant to better understand the photobiological and immunological responses of this type of treatment.

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This pilar will currently mainly focus on pre-clinical models, for later translation into clinical research.