Department of Physics and Astronomy

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY COLLOQUIUM

Dr. Rowan Thomson

Department of Physics
Carleton University

“Advancing cancer radiation therapy with physics: Multi-scale modeling from patient to cells”

ABSTRACT

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer, aiming to maximize tumour cell kill while limiting healthy tissue radiation exposure. Sophisticated simulations using the Monte Carlo technique are used to model the passage of radiation through matter and calculate dose, the energy deposited in tissue by radiation. This presentation will focus on the development and application of computational techniques to study energy deposition in different contexts towards advancing radiation therapy. These include patient-level simulations with direct applications in current treatments, cell-level simulations including applications for prospective treatments involving nanoparticles and, finally, subcellular-level simulations considering possible quantum effects in electron transport.

STUDENTS – after the talk, you’re encouraged to return to the 2nd floor Atrium lounge to meet with the speaker.

COFFEE – coffee and cookies will be available in the 2nd floor Atrium lounge at 1:15 p.m.

CELL PHONES – as a courtesy to the speaker and audience, please set your cellphones to “silent” mode. Thanks!