LhARA Radiobiology Meeting: 20Aug26; 14:00 BST

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

• Planning Document: ​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OTARVtxhLRu02S6CLdRDB2QlGvCqDfZ3aWBifjIFs_Q/edit?tab=t.0

• Trello: ​https://trello.com/invite/b/67587c515b0c69656ee78b48/ATTIe86f94b24e3e5884e4cb87e5ed3b89ab64321B83/poplar

Meeting Notes

1. Beamline Simulation
   • Josie: Characterisation of ELI and SCAPA sources Slides
     • Using the LLO simulation and changing the electron temperature in the model to match the energy spectra for the ELI and SCAPA beamlines
     • SCAPA fitted with 5.5MeV electron temperature
     • ELI fitted with 0.25MeV electron temperature
     • Will chat with Ewan to discuss further
     • Need information on the source divergence
   • Josie: Simulations of a dipole at SCAPA
     • Have funding for dipoles
     • First introduction of dipoles indicates a 90% beam loss
     • Need a more accurate measurement of the space to work in
     • Can test at Birmingham
     • Josie to talk to Darsebury to get more information on sensible dipole parameters
     • Next beamtime will probably not include this dipole arrangement

3. BioPrep
   • Alex's plan: Slides
     • Use transwell with 10um membrane
     • Use absorbent paper on the side of transwell with media
       • Don't need cells to be in media
       • Concern that as the cells/paper dries the thcikness of media will change and the cell will receive a different dose?
     • No cell lid and no media means we can place RCF behind the cells
       • With the cells being vertical little concern over contamination
       • Could cover all but one of the holes on the carousel with a Perspex cover
         • This will keep the moisture in the dish
         • Uncover just to irradiate and then rotate back under
         • This also works for a vertical beam so sterilisation is not an issue
           • Maybe add a second plastic screen above the beamline just in case
         • Can always use antibacterial media
     • Have 6, 12, and 24 well plates so we can cluster the cells that all see the same dose ie reduces the spatial variation.
     • Also could flash-freeze the media and do analysis on that (bystander)
     • Whether electrical impedance to check the cell layer is a monolayer and other techniques
   • Need to dry run and understand cell survival
     • Colin to take Alex on a tour of SCAPA (Aiming for next week)
   • Need an understanding of the publishable minimum
     • Roshine and Marie to draft a plan and to share with Emma and Jason (and Josie)
     • Incubator downstairs in SCAPA?
       • Consider the CO2
     • Minimum repeats is 3
     • Minimum cell lines is 2
     • Which cell lines
       • Emma and Jason prefer their HeLa and FaDu since already done Birmingham runs with them
       • Think about using the hardier cell lines from Glasgow as well

3. Instrumentation
   • Fast Electrons
     • Giuseppe and Richard H. looking at this and need to find the apparatus with the right parameters for our system
     • Ken to visit on October
   • RCF
     • Mark has found some EBT4 delaminated: ​https://www.ashland.com/industries/medical/radiotherapy-films/ebt4
     • Tony to inquire to see if he can get hold of some
     • Alex also suggests casting the RCF into a thinner sheet by using an organic solvent and casting it onto a silicon sheet.
   • Air Scintillation
     • Colin/Narendar: Planning to meet to discuss the feasibility of the implementation at SCAPA and the timeframe

4. SCAPA
   • Updates: None (On experiment)

5. Review Trello: ​https://trello.com/invite/b/67587c515b0c69656ee78b48/ATTIe86f94b24e3e5884e4cb87e5ed3b89ab64321B83/poplar

6. DoNM
   • 03/09/26

7. AoB

Summary of actions required

In-Beam Diagnostics

• Unassigned: Acquire a glass sheet
• Unassigned: Get a new RCF batch and calibrate
• TP: Testing delaminating EBT3
• PH: Obtain transparent fibre or an alternative method for light transport
• PH: Obtain a lens for hollow fibre tests
• CD: Simulate energy deposited in transport fibres
• KL, CD, JMcG, PH: Design a system to make full scifi prototypes
• KL, CD, JMcG, PH: Make a full scifi prototype
• KL, CD: Send clear fibre to SCAPA before 16th August (Contact Ewan or Colin since Robbie is USA)
• KL, CD, JMcG, PH: Discuss visit to Birmingham to test SciFi
• RW, CD: Study the correlation between laser diagnostics and mean dose
• Unassigned: Investigate how a phosphor sheet could be incorporated into the design of the cell dish
• CW: Investigate the feasibility of ICTs for our beamline
• MH: Investigate LET detector
• CW: Ask Narender about air fluorescence implementation
• JMcG: Investigate using IF as a dosimeter
• GS, RH: Investigate fast electron diagnostic
• TP: Investigating commerical delaminated EBT4

Bio Next Steps

• EM, CD, JMcG: Write up technical summary of Phase 2
• EM: Write up a biology plan for a 2 PMQ setup
• Unassigned: Obtain an inverted microscope
• Unassigned: Obtain multi-chamber haemocytometers (Might be able to use Birmingham's)
• Unassigned: Obtain a thermostat for the incubator
• EM: Run controls to examine how long the cells can survive vertically
• JMcG: Plan a test of vertical cell survival using Emma/Jason's HeLa cell line and Marie's cell line
• JMcG: Produce a HeLa colony that can survive on Mylar
• CW, AM: Show Alex around SCAPA

Beamline Modelling

• Unassigned: Investigate how to improve the beamline beyond CV=8%
• CD: Examine energy spectra variation
• JMcG, ED: Discuss spectra fits and SCAPA source divergence
• JMcG: Talk to Darsebury to get more information on sensible dipole parameters

Alternate Beamlines

• JMcG: Simulate BELLA
• JMcG: Simulate ELI

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