PhD project on FLASH-radiotherapy - Radio-Oncology lab of the CHUV, Lausanne-Switzerland
Dr Marie-Catherine Vozenin
Starting date: immediately; Contact: marie-catherine vozenin@chuv.ch
My team at the CHUV/Lausanne has been the first to develop a novel modality of radiotherapy called FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) that has the potential to revolutionize radiotherapy treatment in the near future, making it safer and more efficient. Using various biological studies, we have shown that FLASH-RT was able to eliminate cancer cells without causing any collateral damages to the normal tissue whereas classical radiation therapy, used for the treatment of cancer patients, eliminates cancer cells but causes damages to the surrounding normal tissue and unwanted side effects. FLASH-RT treatment is delivered very quickly in microsecond whereas several minutes are required for a treatment with classical radiotherapy. This very short time of exposure protects the normal tissue and change the way biological tissues respond to FLASH-RT. While, we are in the process of translating FLASH-RT in clinical trials, we obtained 4 years funding from the Swiss National fund, Sinergia to investigate and characterize the response of tissues to FLASH-RT at the physical, chemical and biological level. This multidisciplinary project will involve 6 phD and post-doctoral fellows working together with permanent researchers.
Lausanne area is beautifully located on the Leman lake, at the edge of the Alps. The PhD student will evolve in the unique and stimulating scientific environment of the Swiss Cancer of Lausanne and will work in a multidisciplinary team, on one of the most innovative subject in Radio-Oncology. In addition to be working on the a novel FALSH-RT approach, The selected PhD student will work with an innovative biological model based on the use of zebrafish embryos. The candidate will be specifically be in charge of investigating the biological cascade and the reactive oxygen species contribution activated after FLASH irradiation along three main axis:
· H2O2 measurement in cell line and Hyper zebrafish.
· Regulation of antioxidant pathway by FLASH-RT.
· Impact of oxygen metabolisms on immune response in tumor and normal tissue.
Profile of the candidate: A strong biology background is needed (Master 2), knowledge in radiobiology and/or in free radical chemistry would be a plus but above all the candidate must be curious, open-minded and team player.
References
Montay-Gruel P et al., PNAS, 2019.
Bourhis et al., Radiother&Oncol, 2019, in press.
Vozenin et al., Clin Oncol, 2019.
Montay-Gruel P et al. Radiother&Oncol,. 2018 Aug 31.
Vozenin et al. Clin Can Res, 2018, Jun 6.
Montay-Gruel P et al. Radiother&Oncol, 2017, Sep;124(3):365-369.
Jaccard M et al. Med Phys, 2018.
Fouillade C et al. Bull Cancer. 2017 Mar.
Jaccard M et al. Med Phys, 44(2):725-735.
Petersson K et al. Med Phys, 2017, 44(3):1157-1167.
Favaudon V et al. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Jul 16; 6(245):245ra93.