# Optical Cherenkov calibration for human radiation therapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · 2020 · $498,724

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Optical imaging of Cherenkov emission from tissue has recently been demonstrated, providing a mapping related
to the radiation delivery to tissue. In external beam radiotherapy, the signal is optimally captured by time-gated
intensified cameras, synchronized to the linear accelerator pulses, allowing rejection of the majority of
background room light, and providing real time video of each radiotherapy treatment with standard dose rates.
This discovery is the first time in history that radiation dose to tissue could be directly imaged with high spatial
and temporal resolution. While the imaging technology has inherent limitations to surface regions, it also has the
potential for a paradigm change in how radiotherapy is documented and archived for quality audit and real time
control. The implementation of Cherenkov imaging is significantly simpler than most dosimetry tools, but needs
to be quantitatively accurate to be competitive in the setting of documenting delivered dose. This technology
development proposal advances the methods for correction for tissue curvature and tissue optical properties,
two of the most dominant factors which alter the linearity between dose and Cherenkov emission. These
important corrections are studied in partnership with leading companies that are advancing the methods for
patient surface scanning, tissue optical property imaging and Cherenkov imaging system development, ensuring
that the discoveries found here will translate into commercial implementation. The studies are tested in the pilot
studies of breast cancer patient radiotherapy, in which patients receive up to five daily fractions per week, over
4 to 8 weeks. While radiotherapy delivery incidents occur in less than 1% of treatments, alignment of the patient
for daily treatment is a disproportionally high source of errors. As a result, we will explore the applications of
Cherenkov imaging in verification of the combined on-patient delivery of the beam, using visible vascular patterns
of the breast that appear in the images of the treatment beam. We will also explore the similarity of Cherenkov
intensity to thermoluminescent diode measurement, as a solution for verification that is potentially more accurate
and easily implemented. Taken together, this project will advance on of the most compelling systems for
radiotherapy imaging in decades. The core of the project is combined technology systems, testing the utility in
the setting of whole breast irradiation. This technology is embryonic at this point, but its further development
could shift the paradigm in what is capable for independent verification of radiation therapy delivery.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9829570
- **Project number:** 5R01EB023909-04
- **Recipient organization:** DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Lesley A Jarvis
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $498,724
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-02-01 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9829570

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9829570, Optical Cherenkov calibration for human radiation therapy (5R01EB023909-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9829570. Licensed CC0.

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