To investigate the potential for reduced normal tissue toxicity with ultra-high dose rate FLASH radiotherapy, a proton FLASH system was developed at the University of Pennsylvania in a dedicated research room. Many groups have been investigating the use of electrons for ultra-high dose rate studies; however, protons provide unique advantages due to their physical properties. The Penn experience will be discussed, starting from the initial commissioning activities and verification of dosimetry to the recent enrollment of canine patients for a large animal clinical trial. Proton FLASH studies show increased normal tissue sparing in in vivo models using both the shoot-through and spread out Bragg peak (SOBP) techniques.

Short Bio: Dr. Michele Kim is an Assistant Professor and medical physicist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She earned her BA in Physics and Biophysics as well as her MS and PhD in Physics and Certificate in Medical Physics from the University of Pennsylvania and is certified by the American Board of Radiology. Her research interests include Proton FLASH radiation dosimetry and instrumentation, small animal radiobiological studies, and photodynamic therapy dosimetry.