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UCI researchers receive prestigious NIH U01 award to Advance Cancer Treatment

by | Nov 19, 2024 | Faculty News, Research News

Protoacoustic imaging to localize the Bragg peak

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has received a prestigious $3.7 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support groundbreaking cancer research. Led by Dr. Shawn Xiang, an associate professor in the Departments of Radiological Science and Biomedical Engineering, this project will explore a new imaging technique, protoacoustic/ultrasound imaging, with the potential to improve the precision of a cutting-edge cancer treatment called FLASH proton therapy.

This research, part of the NIH Academic-Industrial Partnerships program, aims to improve the precision of radiotherapy with image guidance. Unlike traditional X-ray-based radiotherapy, which can affect surrounding tissues, proton therapy deposits energy directly at the Bragg peak—a precise point in the tumor—making it a potentially safer and more effective treatment. The team will use ultrasound waves created by the proton beam’s energy to visualize the Bragg peak in real time, aided by AI-based imaging algorithms that will allow them to accurately monitor and measure the radiation dose delivered during treatment.

With protoacoustic imaging and ultrasound co-registered with planning CT for adaptive radiotherapy

“Our research will enable 3D imaging of the proton beam’s Bragg peak as treatment happens,” said Dr. Xiang. “This real-time feedback could pave the way for adaptive radiotherapy, allowing clinicians to make instant adjustments that were previously impossible in current clinical practice.”

Dr. Xiang’s team is collaborating with Dr. Yong Chen at Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma, which has a proton therapy machine, and with Dr. Lei Ren at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who will contribute his expertise in AI-based image reconstruction.

Protoacoustic imaging setup with a clinical proton machine
“This work represents one of the many strengths of UCI’s imaging research,” said Dr. Vahid Yaghmai, Chair of Radiological Science and Radiation Oncology at UCI. “Though Orange County currently lacks a proton center, Dr. Xiang’s innovative research brings us closer to making these advancements accessible to our cancer patients in the future.”

Dr. Shawn Xiang, Ph.D.

TRUE Lab, UC Irvine

Dr. Yong Chen, Ph.D.

Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma

Dr. Lei Ren, Ph.D.

University of Maryland School of Medicine

About the University of California, Irvine Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs.  Located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities, UCI is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.