The goal of this project is to develop a commercial software package for rapid Monte Carlo-based dose computation in imaging and radiation therapy. The product takes advantage of a desktop parallel computer equipped with emerging hardware originally developed gaming and high-performance computing. The project is motivated by the fact that the market is ripe for a product that brings massively parallel computing power currently available only to National Labs and major research universities to busy and resource-limited radiology/oncology clinics. The preliminary studies by us, as well as other groups, on this very new research topic have thus far revealed a number of major challenges.
Specific Aims : (Phase I Segment) 1. To develop a prototype ARCHER software/hardware system suitable for third-party user testing. 2. To demonstrate performance advantage of ARCHER against clinical radiation treatment planning system. (Phase II Segment) 1. To finish the ARCHER software design for radiation therapy dose calculations using emerging parallel-computing hardware platforms. 2. To systematically benchmark radiation physics modeling using experiments and well-tested Monte Carlo code packages. 3. To evaluate clinical benefits of ARCHER for selected radiation treatment protocols involving prostate cancer patients. 4. To evaluate software user experience for interactive and easy-to-use dose verification and treatment planning.

Public Health Relevance

A commercial software package is developed for rapid Monte Carlo-based dose computation in imaging and radiation therapy using emerging hardware originally developed for gaming and high-performance computing.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants - Phase II (R42)
Project #
4R42EB019265-02
Application #
9340330
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SBIB-Q (80)B)
Program Officer
Pai, Vinay Manjunath
Project Start
2015-12-15
Project End
2018-09-30
Budget Start
2016-09-30
Budget End
2017-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
$429,479
Indirect Cost
Name
Virtual Phantoms, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
830026089
City
Albany
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
12205