Speaker
Description
The potential of high-power (TW to multi-PW) lasers for high societal impact medical applications has been anticipated from the beginnings of the field about two decades ago. Since then, progress in the high power laser research, as well as the development of the first platforms for preclinical studies, have strongly strengthened the case for medical applications. A far reaching research program has been recently developed at ELI-NP, aiming to investigate three major medical applications of high power lasers. Radiotherapy with laser accelerated heavy ions, such as carbon, may allow more patients to benefit from this most advanced cancer treatment modality, now accessible only to the richest countries. In addition, the ultrarapid dose delivery possible with lasers may give the revolutionary capability to spare the healthy tissues during tumor treatment (FLASH effect [1]). Laser produced X-ray sources may enable implementing in clinics and hospitals advanced phase contrast-based imaging modalities, such as high sensitivity low dose mammography, or high precision image guidance in radiotherapy [2,3]. Lastly, laser-based production of medical radioisotopes may enable more affordable and widespread use of nuclear medicine diagnostic and treatment modalities [4].
The medically oriented research at ELI-NP will also guide the development of future laser-based medical diagnostic and treatment facilities. In particular, a pilot research Center on medical applications of high power lasers is envisioned at ELI-NP, aiming to take the results of the above research towards the preclinical and, in the long term, even clinical testing stage. The motivation and foundation for high power laser-based medical applications, the ELI-NP research plans, and first preparatory results will be presented.
This work is carried out under the contract PN 23 21 01 06 sponsored by the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digitalization; supported by ELI-NP project—Phase II, co-financed by the Romanian Government and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund: the Competitiveness Operational Program (1/07.07.2016, C.O.P., ID 1334); by the Impulse (Integrated Management and Reliable Operations for User-based Laser Scientific Excellence) project -H2020 project no. 871161, and by the M-ERANET project 'NiWRe Alloys'.
[1] Asavei, T., Bobeica, M., Nastasa, V., Manda, G., Naftanaila, F., Bratu, O., Mischianu, D., Cernaianu, M.O., Ghenuche, P., Savu, D., Stutman, D., Tanaka, K.A., Radu, M., Doria, D. and Vasos, P.R. (2019), Laser-driven radiation: Biomarkers for molecular imaging of high dose-rate effects, Med. Phys., 46: e726-e734
[2] N. Safca, D Stutman, E Anghel, F Negoita and C A Ur, 2022 Phys. Med. Biol. 67, 23NT01
[3] Stutman, D., N. Safca, P. Tomassini, E. Anghel, and C. A. Ur, Towards high-sensitivity and low-dose medical imaging with laser x-ray sources, in Compact Radiation Sources from EUV to Gamma-rays: Development and Applications, vol. 12582, 35-46. SPIE, 2023
[4] A. S. Cucoanes, D. L. Balabanski, F. Canova, P. Cuong, F. Negoita, F. Puicea, and K. A. Tanaka, On the potential of laser driven isotope generation at ELI-NP for positron emission tomography, Proc. SPIE 10239, Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles IV: Review of Progress and Strategies for the Future, 102390B (7 June 2017)
