Exposure to radiation is generally hazardous to human health while proved to be extremely successful in the treatment of cancer and tumours. In both cases, it is paramount to predict the associated risk caused by the radiation and to understand the radiobiological properties of the radiation absorbed by our tissues using radiation protection and detection.
A international collaboration led by SINTEF MiNaLab is currently carrying out a project that will address the aspects in radiation dosimetry through the development of advanced semiconductor radiation detectors and related instrumentation. The instrumentations are specific for terrestrial and space radiation protection and for quality assurance in radiation therapy. 3D silicon based radiation technology using advanced microelectronic and nanotechnology will develop new silicon sensors in microdosimetry. These sensors will mimic the response to ionizing radiation on a cellular and sub-cellular level of biological tissues, providing an aid to predict the outcomes of contemporary hadron radiation therapy and the risk associated with radiation in terrestrial and space environments.
The results of the project will establish a knowledge platform for the use of 3D radiation detector technology in advanced radiation dosimetry to develop a suite of instrumentation that will improve the quality of life in cancer patients and in individuals who are living with radiation hazards.
The project is multi-disciplinary, supported by a strong international collaboration of leading institutions in the field of microelectronics, radiation detection and dosimetry, radiation oncology and advanced radiation facilities, and supported by the Research Council of Norway through the Nano2021 program (NFR 21991/O70).