Flying rats and microbeam paths crossing: the beauty of international interdisciplinary science

Abstract

Purpose

Microbeam radiotherapy (MRT) is a still experimental radiotherapy approach. Two combined parameters contribute to an excellent normal tissue protection and an improved control of malignant tumors in small animal models, compared to conventional radiotherapy: dose deposition at a high dose rate and spatial fractionation at the micrometre level. The international microbeam research community expects to see clinical MRT trials within the next ten years.

Physics-associated research is still widely regarded as a male domain. Thus, the question was asked whether this is reflected in the scientific contributions to the field of microbeam radiotherapy.

Method

A literature search was conducted using Pubmed, Semantic Scholar and other sources to look specifically for female contributors to the field of microbeam radiotherapy development.

Conclusion

The original idea for MRT was patented in 1994 by an all-male research team. In approximately 50% of all publications related to microbeam radiotherapy, however, either the first or the senior author is a woman. The contribution of those women who have been driving the development of both technical and biomedical aspects of MRT in the last two decades is highlighted.

Keywords:

• Cancer
• brain tumor
• microbeam radiotherapy (MRT)
• synchrotron radiation
• women

Disclosure statement

The author has no conflicts of interest to report.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Schültke holds a grant from the German Research Foundation [SCHU 2589/7].

Notes on contributors

Elisabeth Schültke

PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schültke, PhD, is a neurosurgeon and radiooncologist. She has been part of the international interdisciplinary microbeam irradiation research community for almost two decades. She is based at the Department of Radiooncology of the Rostock University Medical Centre in Germany.