Description
Improving access to novel and advanced cancer treatment and diagnostic technologies remains a major societal and medical challenge. Within this framework, the ELI-NP has initiated a comprehensive research program through the Dr. LASER project, part of the National Health Program and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Romanian Government. The project aims to advance medical applications with high-power laser systems, targeting both innovative cancer therapies and next-generation diagnostic techniques.
Hadrontherapy with heavy ions, particularly carbon ions, represents one of the most precise and biologically effective modalities for cancer treatment, owing to its favorable depth–dose distribution (Bragg peak) and enhanced relative biological effectiveness (RBE). Conventional carbon-ion therapy facilities, however, rely on large-scale synchrotrons or cyclotrons, limiting widespread clinical implementation due to their size and cost. In recent years, laser-driven ion acceleration has emerged as a promising alternative, leveraging ultra-intense, ultra-short laser pulses to generate high-energy ion beams within compact setups. Significant progress has been achieved worldwide in target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA), radiation pressure acceleration (RPA), and emerging hybrid acceleration schemes, leading to improved beam stability, spectral control, and shot-to-shot reproducibility, although still much research needs to be done to achieve conditions suitable for therapy. While clinical translation remains challenging—particularly in achieving narrow energy spread, sufficient particle flux, and precise dosimetry — state-of-the-art facilities are now demonstrating ion energies approaching the therapeutic window and enabling systematic radiobiology investigations.
Among several research directions, the ELI-NP research pursues laser-driven acceleration of carbon ions using the 10 PW laser system, coupled with advanced beam transport, diagnostics, and dosimetric characterization. Parallel in-vitro and in-vivo radiobiology studies will be conducted to assess DNA damage mechanisms, cell survival pathways, oxygen enhancement effects, and potential advantages over conventionally accelerated ions. The research program also includes phase-contrast X-ray imaging and laser-driven medical radioisotope production, broadening the societal impact of the project.
This presentation will review the current international state of the art in laser-driven ion acceleration for radiobiology, outline the scientific and technological objectives of the Dr. LASER project, and discuss recent progress achieved at ELI-NP about a laser-based platform towards clinical application.
