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Akronym
DEMOSTAR
Projekt Titel
Entwicklung von Methoden zur Herstellung von Kleintier-Phantomen für die präklinische Strahlenforschung
DEvelopMent Of methods for manufacturing Small animal phanToms for preclinical RAdiation Research
Förderkennzeichen
KR 3478/35-1
Funding code
945.03-991
Startdatum
May 1, 2026
Enddatum
April 30, 2029
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Principal Investigator
Involved external organisation
Recent developments in the field of small-animal irradiation are enabling a faster translation of experimental results into the clinic, since radiobiology experiments can be reproduced in a more accurate way. In such experiments, mice or rats are often used, as their complex, human-like anatomy is a suitable model for in-vivo analysis. An important technical advancement in preclinical studies is the implementation of image guidance for treatment planning and delivery, resulting in a precise irradiation of the tumour. For an accurate determination of radiation dose, tissue inhomogeneities need to be accounted for during treatment planning and dose calculation. However, typical phantoms for dosimetry and quality assurance are made of a homogeneous material and designed with a simple geometry (such as cylinders). To tackle this issue, phantoms based on realistic anatomy and tissue-mimicking materials were created in the last few years by using additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing. This technique allows for the production of complex models from a three-dimensional data set, and offer high flexibility with respect to both the anatomical details to be included (body shape and internal structure) and the material choice for mimicking tissue properties with respect to x-ray attenuation. However, so far, no systematic approach to phantom development has been described, despite the need for models that are suitable as a standard for characterisation of small-animal imaging and radiation equipment. All proposed models, in fact, are built for specific purposes and therefore not adaptable for further tests in an inexpensive and sustainable way. With this project, we intend to develop a systematic approach for flexible and modular phantom development and qualification in small-animal medical imaging and radiotherapy. To this end, we will focus on (i) the definition of a general creation process for sustainable and inexpensive phantoms, from the construction of a 3D model to the choice of the AM technique, (ii) the generation of a database for 3D printable materials with tissue-equivalent x-ray absorption properties and (iii) the development of 3D models which can be used for Monte Carlo simulations as well as for other purposes, such as image registration verification. By implementing this approach and making the results available to the community, we will contribute to data harmonisation and effective training in the radiobiology community without the use of small animals, which complies with the principle of the “3R” (Replace, Reduce, Refine) in animal research.