Development of a clinical microscale dosimetry framework for radiopharmaceutical therapy

Position: PhD candidate

Institution: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) & KU Leuven

Location: Mol, Belgium

Application closes at: Mar 31st, 2026 23:00

URL: https://www.sckcen.be/en/thesis-and-internship-topics/development-clinical-microscale-dosimetry-framework-radiopharmaceutical-therapy-5684

Radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) delivers radiation directly to tumor cells, but current clinical practice still relies on fixed administered activities and whole-organ dosimetry. This overlooks heterogeneous radiopharmaceutical distribution within organs, which is particularly critical for dose-limiting tissues such as the kidneys, where localized high absorbed doses may cause toxicity even when average organ doses appear safe.

This PhD project advances precision medicine in prostate cancer by developing a clinical microscale dosimetry framework for PSMA-targeted RPT.

By combining mechanistic physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling with high-resolution anatomical representations, preclinical biodistribution data, clinical PET/SPECT imaging, and Monte Carlo–based dose calculations, the project aims to enable more accurate dose–response assessment and individualized treatment planning.

Embedded in a broader research initiative, this PhD offers the opportunity to work at the interface of physics, computational modeling, and clinical translation.

 

SCK CEN mentor: Clarita Saldarriaga Vargas

University promoter: Michel Koole (KU Leuven)

PhD standard start date (earliest): October 1st, 2026

Main workplace: SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium

Scholarship available (4 years): yes

Candidate required background: medical physics; biomedical or nuclear sciences

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