Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Health Sciences
In our Radiation Therapy Biology Laboratory, I am investigating the sparing effects subjected to ultra-high dose rate (uHDR) irradiation using carbon ion beams. Recent research has increasingly focused on the FLASH effect, a phenomenon that uHDR irradiation can reduce normal tissue damages while sparing. However, the mechanisms underlying the FLASH effect and the optimal conditions for its occurrence are still unclear. Therefore, we aim to explore the effects of uHDR irradiation on cells by examining both chemical and biological processes. Our goal is to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind the protective effects and identify optimal conditions, such as radiation type, Linear Energy Transfer (LET), dose rate, and dose.
Specifically, in chemical processes (biochemical processes), we will measure the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), including OH radicals and H₂O₂, to compare radical production between uHDR and conventional dose rate irradiations. In addition, we will focus on antioxidants, substances that remove radicals, and investigate how their effectiveness varies with dose rate and cell type. Finally, we aim to advance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the FLASH effect.