Boosting safety in proton therapy for kids

The co-founders participated in and recently graduated from the UC Venture Lab accelerator program housed within the 1819 Innovation Hub. 

Building on the expertise gained through this program, the team has focused its efforts on a next-generation evolution of existing calibration phantoms used in proton radiotherapy. In medical imaging and radiation therapy, a phantom is a physical model of a patient's internal organs made of tissue-equivalent material, or TEMs. 

“We typically use polyurethane with additives to build TEMs that mimic the radiometric characteristics of human tissue. We verify the TEMs design by measuring its radiometric performance against published human radiometry data," says Stringer. "This allows us to validate the efficacy of our design of our TEMs and apply data to patient treatments.” 

This emphasis on precise modeling is crucial, as new technologies and safety systems cannot be tested directly on humans until they are proven safe. Consequently, researchers rely on physical models to simulate real-world conditions and to help predict and improve outcomes.

A crash-test dummy is a human stand-in used to measure automobile safety. Biomedical engineers use materials that replicate a human driver. They measure bone stiffness, muscle density and proportions to evaluate joint movement, positioning and impact during crash testing.

Similarly, a phantom model mimics human anatomy during radiation treatment. It allows safe planning, such as choosing proton beam entry angles and paths to the organ.

In addition to helping convert CT scan data into more precise proton radiotherapy plans, this phantom's stopping-power ratio (SPR) enhances both accuracy and safety. Compared to older, less realistic models, Range Assure’s is widely valued for its ability to target tumors with ultraprecision and certainty, depositing most of its energy at a specific depth known as the Bragg peak.

However, uncertainty in predicting the exact peak location often forces clinicians to expand treatment margins, unintentionally exposing more normal tissue to radiation.

This lifelike matching of organ makeup, shape, and layout lets you see how Range Assure’s phantom empowers clinicians to predict with greater confidence where proton radiation will stop in the body.

Imagine holding a material that feels human-like. That's the goal the founders pursued when they developed an optimization algorithm to determine the precise ratios of plastics and additive materials needed to replicate different tissue types.

To make all this possible, the team tackled the demanding task of building a vast library of radiation interactions for every material. This technical feat now forms the core of the company’s patented innovations.

The UC Office of Technology Transfer partnered with Range Assure to secure a U.S. patent. With a functional prototype, the technology demonstrated promise in preclinical tests. The team is now advancing toward clinical trials, sharpening protocols and actively engaging early adopters to drive clinical implementation.

Reflecting on the project’s progress, Geoffrey Pinski, vice president of technology transfer, said, “This is exactly how university research is meant to work. When discoveries move from the lab to patented technologies and into the market, they create real-world impact, strengthening industry, advancing patient care and ultimately improving outcomes for the communities we serve.”

Subsequent iterations are expected to be customized for specific anatomical sites and tailored to patient age, size, bone density, and other relevant factors, thereby facilitating personalized, precise radiation therapy.

Sandwall emphasizes the phantom’s technology, agility and customizability. Range Assure is open to collaboration and committed to ongoing development, signaling confidence in the technology's future advancement.

With a strong scientific foundation, institutional support from UC and a clear clinical need, Range Assure represents a promising step toward making cancer treatment safer, more precise and more patient-centered. “We invite healthcare partners, researchers and stakeholders to join us in advancing this vital technology,” said Sandwall.

Located in the Cincinnati Innovation District, the 1819 Innovation Hub serves as a corporate meeting place and startup incubator, reinforcing its position as a regional center of innovation.