Workbench for cell cultures
At the MedAustron Centre for Ion Beam Therapy and Research, radiation biology examines the effects of ionising radiation on the biological properties and is an indispensable part of learning and applying new types of radiation.
Radiation biology provides valuable information about standards for the assessment of equivalent doses or the interpretation of side effects for the individual treatment case as well as for cases outside of secured standards. Furthermore, new treatment combinations (“targeted therapies”), not only with chemotherapy, but also with modern immunotherapy and/or small modulating molecules shall be examined.
It is therefore important to study the mechanisms and consequences of therapy with protons and carbon ions on humans from molecular to organ level and thus gain better understanding.
Potential fields of research:
- Characterisation of biological and molecular effects of proton and carbon ion beams – comparison with photons
- Establishment of predictive markers for predicting individual radiation sensitivity and tumour response (biomarker)
- Selective enhancement of radiation sensitivity of tumours by modulating molecular targets
- Development of new combinations of chemotherapy, and/or immunotherapy
- Space exploration
