LhARA radiobiology; meeting: 17Dec25; 12:00 BST

ZOOM: ​https://imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/98220889714?pwd=SM90vOF7BKSXoU3mD9q7OwBQo4IVB3.1

Attended: CD, PH, AFr, MB, RA, KL, EM, HO, JP, MH

Meeting Notes

1. Minutes and actions:

• MB/EM: Evaluate the cells
  • STANDS
• CD, AFr: Complete analysis of RCF with Error Calculation
  • STANDS (Waiting for Orientation Scans)
• EM/ED/LJ: Send calibration films to SCAPA and scan them in both orientations
  • STANDS
• AFr, DA: Write out RCF procedure document
  • STANDS
• EM, JMcG: Write up summary of PoPLaR Phase 2, including technical summary of cell irradiation procedure
  • STANDS
• RW, CD: Study correlation between laser diagnostics and mean dose
  • STANDS
• CD, TP: Evaluate LET in the cells with the RCF in front
  • STANDS
• CD: Compare dose profile consistency
  • DONE

2. SCAPA RW,ED:

No Update

3. Bio EM,JP,MB:

• See cells in FaDu from all days and the higher seeding densities.
  • Seeing a clear dose response.
  • Still looks like the radiation has been too high.
• No cells in HeLa.
  • Seem to be more sensitive.
  • Emma mentioned that people working with them in Birmingham at the same time as phase 2 were struggling to get results with them. So could be the cell line? However, since Emma has got back she has done more work with them and they seem fine?
  • Possibly worth moving to a different cell line in the future?
• Cells back with Mark and he will organise their delivery to Birmingham. (Most likely after Christmas)
  • Results hopefully can be produced by end of Jan
• Marie is keen to stay connected. She is putting together a grant about different radiation types so this work is all useful.
• Emma to share the counting software she uses with Marie
• Still uncertain about the uniformity.
  • Comet analysis should help with this
    • But cells were on ice for a while before being forzen so may have repaired.
  • Calvin to send Emma min and max dose

4. Beamline Diagnostic, KL, TP, CD, PH:

• RCF Update
  • RCF not sent up yet, so will send in Jan
• KL, PH on Sparse Sci-Fi
  • Slides
  • Peter has a simulation of the fibres used (50mm long fibre polysterene core and PMMA cladding as per BCF50)
  • If using a remote camera recieve order of 1/1000 power from scintillation as if using a nearby screen.
  • Key questions: 1) What is the typical light produced in a sparse fibre per laser pulse
    • How many protons per shot pass through each fibre
      • 20-30 is fine but 1 or 2 is too few
    • Can be done in sim but requires a better understanding of the source distribution
    2) Dimensions of the vacuum chamber
  • Instead of remote could also looking at capturing the light into a larger fibre to collect more light
• Phosphor screen requires face-on viewing so possibly some practical difficulties
  • Peter also happy to simulate this
• Using the discarded beam (Photodiode).
  • Slides
  • Beam consistency shows a Pearson Correlation Coefficient of minimum 0.83.
  • Predicting the average pixel count inside the cell dish from the beam outside the cell dish provides a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.991, and can predict with a 6% error.
  • Better analysis to be done with dose once RCF properly calibrated
• Delaminated RCF
  • Mark Hill has some and will take it to Birmingham tomorrow.
  • Will need to do a calibration of this before we start a new run
  • Least popular option

5. Lessons Learnt and Aims for Timeline, CD:

• Slides
• Critical issues are:
  • Beam uniformity
  • Shot-to-shot variation
  • Control Survival
• Plan for next run (minimum requirements):
  • Repeat of phase 2
  • Move the scatterer forward to improve beam uniformity
  • Have an in-beam diagnostic
    • Minimum option is delaminated RCF
      • Requires calibration and full description of RCF errors
    • Hopefully test a sparse sci-fi
  • Reduce the time the cells are in carousel
    • Reduce time between shots
    • Make people aware of the importance of this
  • Use SCAPA as destination for immediate cell work
    • Require an inverted microscope
    • At the end of the week move the cells to Marie's lab for better control
  • Discussion needed on the benefits of doing this run?
• Longer-term
  • Remove scatterer and introduce more quads
  • Introduce a dipole chicane
  • Use an X-ray control
  • Introduce a (pseudo-)beampipe
  • Look at ELIMED option
  • Permanent SCAPA beamline?

6. In-Person Meeting

• Date: February (9th, 10th, 24th, 25th, 26, 27th are currently the best options)
• Place: Strathclyde will be the default. Second choice would be Birmingham
  • Need to discuss further
• lettuceMeet: ​https://lettucemeet.com/l/lWwgW

7. DoNM

• 8th Jan (Only if necessary to sort out deliveries etc) Emma to host

8. AoB

• Ken keen for support for Royal Society Exhibition
• Merry Christmas!!!

Summary of actions required

• ALL: FILL OUT LETTUCEMEET
• ALL: Decide location for in-person meeting

Phase 2 Analysis

• EM, MB: Organise transport of cells to Birmingham for evaluation
• EM: Evaluate the cell results
• CD, AFr: Complete analysis of RCF with errors
• EM/ED/LJ: Send calibration films to SCAPA and scan them in both orientations
• EM, JMcG: Write up summary of PoPLaR Phase 2, including technical summary of cell irradiation procedure
• EM: Share the counting software she uses with Marie
• MB: Comet analysis
• CD: Tell Emma the min and max dose seen on the cell dish

Beam Diagnostics

• AFr, DA: Write out RCF procedure document
• Unassigned: Find all the errors associated with RCF
• RW, CD: Study correlation between laser diagnostics and mean dose
• CD, TP: Evaluate LET in the cells with the RCF in front
• RW, ED: Tell Peter the dimensions of the vacuum chamber
• Unassigned (CD): Use sim to answer how many protons per shot in each fibre

Improve Bio results

• EM, JP: Discuss cell line to use next time?
• Unassigned: Obtain an inverted microscope

Long-term

• CD, JMcG: Investigate how to achieve uniformity without a scatterer in place

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