From ultrafast laser-generated radiation to clinical impact: a roadmap for radiobiology and cancer research at the extreme light infrastructure (ELI)
Year: 2025
Authors: Hideghyty K., Cirrone GAP., Parodi K., Prise KM., Borghesi M., Malka V., Osvay K., Biro B., Blbha P., Bulanov SV., Cammarata FP., Catalano R., Kamperidis C., Chaudhary P., Davndkovb M., Doria D., Favetta M., Fenyvesi A., Fulop Z., Gilinger T., Giuffrida L., Gizzi LA., Grigalavicius M., Grittani GM., Hafz NAM., Jaroszynski DA., Kahaly S., Lazzarini CM., Zsolt L., Lukbc P., Manti L., Molnar R., Papp D., Petringa G., Polanek R., Russo G., Schettino G., Schillaci F., Stuhl L., Szabu ER., Szabu G., Ur CA., Vannucci L., Varmazyar P., Vondracek V., Varju K., Zahradnncek O., Margarone D.
Autors Affiliation: ELI HU Nonprofit Ltd, EL ALPS, Szeged, Hungary; Natl Inst Nucl Phys, Lab Nazl Sud, Catania, Italy; LMU, Dept Expt Phys Med Phys, Munich, Germany; Queens Univ Belfast, Belfast, North Ireland; IFIN HH, ELI Nucl Phys, Magurele, Romania; Univ Szeged, Natl Laser Initiated Transmutat Lab, Szeged, Hungary; HUN REN Inst Nucl Res HUN REN ATOMK, Debrecen, Hungary; ELI Beamlines Fa cil, Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, Dolni Brezany, Czech Republic; CNR, Inst Bioimaging & Complex Biol Syst, Cefalu, Italy; Natl Phys Lab NPL, Teddington, England; Czech Acad Sci, Nucl Phys Inst, Rez, Czech Republic; ASP Trapani, Med Phys & Trapani Radiotherapy Dept Unit, Trapani, Italy; CNR, INO, Pisa, Italy; Vilnius Univ, Fac Phys, Laser Res Ctr, Vilnius, Lithuania; Strathclyde Univ, Glasgow City, Scotland; Univ Campania L Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy; Natl Inst Nucl Phys Naples Sect, INFN, Naples, Italy; Czech Acad Sci, Inst Microbiol, Prague, Czech Republic; Proton Therapy Ctr Czech, Prague, Czech Republic; Ctr Siciliano Fis Nucleare & Struttura Mat CSFNSM, Catania, Italy.
Abstract: The extreme light infrastructure (ELI) is emerging as a state-of-the-art facility providing international users with open access to ultrashort laser-driven particle bunches, ranging from a few femtoseconds to a few nanoseconds, for advanced radiobiology studies. ELI offers femtosecond-class laser pulses and ultrafast ionizing radiation characterized by extremely high instantaneous dose rates (107-1012 Gy/s). The versatility of ELI’s cutting-edge technologies enables the generation of high repetition rate (1 Hz-1 kHz) secondary sources (protons, ions, electrons, and neutrons) with energies from a few MeV to several hundred MeV, achieved over sub-millimetre to millimetre-scale acceleration lengths, along with fundamental research in the field of ultrahigh intensity laser-matter interaction based on the use of the highest peak power laser pulses available worldwide. Harnessing these laser-driven particle sources for radiobiology and medical research demands a coordinated international effort, with a strong focus on advancing scientific instrumentation and refining experimental methodologies to support progress in ultrafast laser-driven radiation biology. This roadmap underscores the need for systematically designed experiments across ELI facilities, supported by preparatory research at users’ home laboratories, alongside the ongoing development of instrumentation and infrastructure. These efforts are critical to rigorously assess and validate the therapeutic potential of these novel sources, paving the way for a transformative shift in radiation biology and medicine.
Journal/Review: EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS
Volume: 140 (8) Pages from: 730-1 to: 730-11
More Information: The research was carried out at the Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC and supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (IMPULSE-Grant Agreement No. 871161). ELI ALPS was additionally supported by the European Union and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (project GINOP-2.3.6-15-2015-00001).KeyWords: High Dose-rate; Accelerated Proton; Electron-beams; Ion Accelerator; Driven; Radiotherapy; Irradiation; Elimaia; Feasibility; TherapyDOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06662-w
