The SAIRF has acquired new equipment. Effective November 1, 2018, the Small Animal Imaging and Radiotherapy Facility will be managing 3 irradiators; SARRP, XRAD320, and RS225. The Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) from Xstrahl delivers targeted external beam radiation to pre-clinical animal models with great accuracy, conforming to a tissue of interest as is done in clinical radiotherapy. The system is equipped with a computed tomography (CT), allowing the user to contour a tissue of interest (ie. tumor) to evaluate the dose and to allow for animalized (akin to “personalized”) therapy.
Targeted radiation is a proven method of treating cancer clinically, and is key component in treatment regimens in over 60% of cancers worldwide. In order to keep pace with clinical practice, cancer researchers must mimic clinical practice as close as possible. The SARRP enables clinical researchers to perform clinically relevant radiation experiments which yield relevant and translational data. Adopting clinical techniques like imaging, target localization, and avoidance of normal tissue toxicity will only drive the field and understanding of radiation effects to the tumor forward.
-Xstrahl
General external beam radiation applications:
- Pre-clinical studies
- Radiobiology and Physics
- Tumour response and control
- Clinically relevant treatment planning
- DNA damage
- Immunotherapy
- Tumour micro-environment characterization
- Hypoxia
- Bystander effect
- Normal tissue toxicity
- Abscopal response
- Radiosensitizers and Radioprotectors
- Cardiovascular toxicity
- Oncology research
- Validation of clinical findings