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Nuclear and Radiation Physics

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One of the main goals of the research addressing this subtheme is to improve the therapeutic index in radiotherapy which is widely used for cancer treatment. This can be achieved by developing approaches that allow increasing normal tissue resistance to radiotherapy. This would make it possible to increase tumor dose, resulting in an improvement in cure rate. Another line of research in this subtheme is the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy to tackle environmental problems such as pollution.

Science and Technology

Description of Subtheme:

The field of nuclear and radiation physics is a main axis of research at the Faculty of Science – Physics Department contributing to the good health and well-being of patients. It is based mainly on the physics-cancer interface and favors three components focused on imaging, radiotherapy and modeling. 

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most frequently used methods for cancer treatment (above 50% of patients will receive RT). Despite remarkable advancements, the dose tolerances of normal tissues continue to be the main limitation in RT. Finding novel approaches that allow increasing normal tissue resistance is of utmost importance. This would make it possible to escalate tumor dose, resulting in an improvement in cure rate.

The ambition of the “Nuclear and Radiation Physics” subtheme is the improvement of the therapeutic index in Radiotherapy. For this purpose, new approaches based on new dose deposition methods, amplification dose effects in the tumor, optimization/improvement of existing radiotherapy techniques are under study by comparing the treatment plans between the 2 main techniques used nowadays 3DCRT (3D Conformal Radiation Therapy) and VMAT (Volumetric Arc Radiation Therapy).

In addition, multimodel diagnosis techniques are also under study by comparing and investigating the difference and the complementary between PET/CT and MRI images to diagnose tumor and to improve the contouring of the tumor in the treatment plan.

Another line of research that falls under the umbrella of this subtheme is the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy to tackle environmental problems such as pollution.

Prominent Research:

  • Duhaini, et al. “ The effectiveness of DIBH Technique in protecting the heart of radiotherapy breast cancer patients treated at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon” Health and Technology Journal, Volume 11, pages 851–857, (2021).
  • Dihaini, et al. “ Dosimetry comparison and evaluation of the 3D and IMRT of left breast cancer radiotherapy techniques treated at Ain Wazein medical village hospital in Lebanon” Health and Technology Journal, Volume 11, pages 483–490, (2021).
  • Rana Baydoun, Omar El Samad, Maria Aoun, Bilal Nsouli and Ghassan Younes, “Set-Up, Optimization and First Set of Samples at the Radiocarbon Laboratory in Lebanon”, Geochronometria, 41(1), 87-91 (2014).
  • Rana Baydoun, Omar El Samad, Bilal Nsouli, Ghassan Younes, “Measurement of 14C Content in Leaves Near a Cement Factory in Mount Lebanon”, Radiocarbon, 57(1), 153–159, (2015).
  • Rana Baydoun, Omar El Samad, Bilal Nsouli, Ghassan Younes, “Seasonal Variation of Radiocarbon Content in Plant Leaves in a 14C-Depleted Area”, Radiocarbon, 57(3), 1– 7 (2015).