NSS 2024.12.20 Arthur Lalonde "Novel approaches to Monitor Dose Rate in FLASH Electron Radiotherapy"

MPU Noon Seminar Series Speaker: Arthur Lalonde, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Université de Montréal Principal Scientist, Research Center, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec Title: "High Speed, High Accuracy: Novel approaches to Monitor Dose and Dose Rate in FLASH Electron Radiotherapy" Abstract: Ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) electron radiotherapy represents a potentially transformative approach in cancer treatment, promising significant advancements in efficacy and patient outcomes. However, the clinical adoption of this technique depends on the development of precise and reliable methods to monitor and report the delivered dose. This presentation addresses three key challenges in beam monitoring and dose tracking for UHDR electron radiotherapy. First, it introduces a method to derive the electron energy spectrum of a compact UHDR electron linac for Monte Carlo dose calculation. Second, it presents a redesigned beam current transformer (BCT), resolving unexplained signal variations across different irradiation setups. Finally, the dosimetric accuracy of this design is evaluated through a protocol for BCT dose calibration with traceability to the primary standard water calorimeter. Together, these innovations pave the way for improved accuracy and reliability in FLASH electron radiotherapy, enabling more reproducible pre-clinical research and advancing the potential for clinical translation. Biographical Summary: Arthur Lalonde is an Assistant Professor of Physics at the Université de Montréal and a Principal Scientist at the CHUM Research Center. He earned his PhD in Physics from the Université de Montréal in 2019 and completed the Harvard Medical Physics Residency Program in 2022. Dr. Lalonde specializes in proton therapy, adaptive radiotherapy, and, more recently, FLASH radiotherapy, with a focus on beam monitoring and dose tracking for ultrahigh dose rate electron beams