List members will be interested to learn of an exciting opportunity to
carry out a PhD.

PhD in Biophysical Aspects of Photodynamic Therapy

Supervisors: 	Drs Tom Brown (St Andrews)
Kenny Wood (St Andrews) 
Harry Moseley (Ninewells, Dundee)

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a treatment for cancer that involves
light-activation of a photosensitiser and causes cell death by release
of singlet oxygen and free radicals. The Scottish PDT Centre was
established in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee in 2000 thanks to a generous
donation from the Barbara Stewart Charitable Trust. Since its
introduction in Dundee, over 2,000 treatments have been carried out. The
photosensiters used for PDT also have the property that they fluoresce
and so they can be used for photodiagnosis (PD), which is performed at
the Scottish PDT Centre to direct the surgeon towards tissue that is
likely to be cancerous.

The purpose of the proposed PhD program is to gain a fuller
understanding of the interaction between the incident light and the
tumour. Optimal treatment regimes have not been established. We would
like to be able to model both PDT and PD. To assist in this, we propose
to develop theoretical radiative transfer models using Monte Carlo
techniques in order to simulate the incident light and the fluorescent
emission. This will be done for the range of tissue types where PDT is
performed in Dundee. This includes skin (the most accessible), the oral
cavity, the brain and bladder.

Light distribution measurements will be made around a range of light
delivery devices, including cylindrical diffusers and miniature balloons
filled with light-scattering media. Further measurements will be carried
out using optical fibres embedded in tissue samples. Fluorescent
emission spectra will also be measured using a specially constructed
optical biopsy system.

This project provides many opportunities for the student to study PDT
from theoretical, experimental, and clinical perspectives.  

There will be joint supervision from Dr Harry Moseley, who is Technical
& Scientific Director of the Scottish PDT Centre and Honorary Reader at
the University of Dundee, and Dr Kenny Wood, who is Lecturer in the
Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews.  Dr
Wood will supervise the theoretical aspects of the PhD (Monte Carlo
radiation transfer) and Dr Moseley will supervise the experimental and
clinical applications.

For further information email:
Dr Tom Brown: [log in to unmask] 
Dr Wood: [log in to unmask] 
Dr Moseley at [log in to unmask]

Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested.