Mar 28, 2024  
School of Graduate Studies Calendar, 2020-2021 
    
School of Graduate Studies Calendar, 2020-2021 [-ARCHIVED CALENDAR-]

Radiation Sciences


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The M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Radiation Sciences and the M.Sc. program in Health and Radiation Physics are administered by the Radiation Sciences Graduate Program. Staff from several University departments and from health care institutions contribute to the programs.

Enquiries: 905 525-9140 Ext. 24558
E-mail: radgrad@mcmaster.ca, gradchair@physics.mcmaster.ca

Website: http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca

Faculty / Fall 2020

Supervisors

Nicholas A. Bock (Psychology, Neurosciences and Behavior)
Soo Hyun Byun (Physics and Astronomy)
David R. Chettle (Physics and Astronomy)
Ian S. Dayes (Radiology)
Kevin Diamond (School of Interdisciplinary Science)
Qiyin Fang (Engineering Physics)
Thomas J. Farrell (School of Interdisciplinary Science/Radiology)
Troy Farncombe (Radiology)
Michael J. Farquharson (School of Interdisciplinary Science)
Christopher L. Gordon (Radiology)
Joseph E. Hayward (School of Interdisciplinary Science/Radiology)
Maureen MacDonald (Kinesiology)
Fiona E. McNeill, (Physics and Astronomy)
Carmel E. Mothersill (Biology)
Michael D. Noseworthy (Biomedical Engineering/ Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Orest Z. Ostapiak, (School of Interdisciplinary Science)
Colin B. Seymour (Biology)
John F. Valliant (Chemistry)
Marcin Wierzbicki (School of Interdisciplinary Science)
Joanna Wilson (Biology)

Adjunct Members

Jovica Atanackovic (Ontario Power Generation)
Douglas R. Boreham (Northern Ontario Medical School)
Diana Moscu (Health Physics, McMaster)
Joanne M. O’Meara (University of Guelph)
Ana Pejovic-Milic (Ryerson University)
David M. Tucker (Health Physics, McMaster)
Jeroen Thompson (Bruce Power)
Anthony J. Waker (University of Ontario Institute of Technology)
Edward J. Waller (University of Ontario Institute of Technology)

Professor Emeritus

William V. Prestwich (Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences)
Andrew J. Rainbow (Biology)

 

Research in Medical and Health Physics

Research groups and research facilities exist in the Radiation Sciences Graduate Program, Hamilton Health Sciences, the Juravinski Cancer Centre, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and in different departments within the University.

Current research activity includes dosimetry of diagnostic and brachytherapy radioisotopes, β interface dosimetry, imaging dose distributions (Prestwich), neutron micro-dosimetry (Byun), nuclear and atomic techniques used for analysis of both trace toxic elements and major components of human body composition (Chettle, McNeill, O’Meara, Pejovic-Milic, Bock), development of novel radiopharmaceuticals and medical use of radioisotopes in diagnosis and therapy (Valliant, Peng, Farncombe), novel methods of imaging bone architecture and joint structure non-invasively (Gordon), magnetic resonance imaging (Bock, Noseworthy), the role of DNA damage and DNA repair processes in carcinogenesis and in the response of tumour cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy (Rainbow), the role of adaptive response, genomic instability and bystander effect in radiation risk assessment of human and non-human biota (Boreham, Mothersill, Seymour), laser and light propagation in tissue for photodynamic therapy and tissue characterization (Patterson, Farrell, Hayward), skeletal muscle function and the mechanisms of repair/regeneration (Parise), novel radiotherapy planning, delivery and verification techniques (Diamond, Ostapiak, Wierzbicki).

Facilities for Research

The swimming pool reactor (operated at 2MW) is available for projects involving medical radioisotope and radiopharmaceutical development, neutron activation, dosimetry and neutron radiography. The accelerator laboratory houses a KN Van de Graaff (usually operated at up to 2.5MV and currents up to 200 µA) and a polarized x-ray fluorescence facility, which are used for the development of in-vivo elemental analyses. Two new accelerators are being installed; one will be a microbeam facility for radiobiology research.

Within Nuclear Medicine there is an 11MeV proton cyclotron, primarily used for production of positron emitting isotopes, together with positron tomographs. Equipment used for body composition studies includes dual energy x-ray absorption scanners, a whole body counter and a peripheral quantitative computed tomograph.

At the Juravinski Cancer Centre there is a suite of laser and other light sources and detectors used in conjunction with studies on photodynamic therapy and other applications involving light propagation in tissue. It also hosts a full complement of high energy radiotherapy units including a robot-mounted linear accelerator (Cyberknife), various treatment planning systems, a well-equipped dosimetry lab and machine shop.

Programs

    MasterDoctoralCourse Offerings

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