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Researchers from EMRP project develop the world's first primary standard for molecular radiotherapy (MRT) to treat cancer

The new standard will help improve the consistency of MRT treatments, in which radioactive molecules, or radiopharmaceuticals, are injected directly into a patient's body to target and kill cancerous cells. Such standardisation is vital to encourage more widespread use of MRT and develop new and improved radiopharmaceuticals.

Like any form of radiotherapy, the success of MRT relies on the delivery of an extremely precise dose of radiation. The goal is to maximise the dose delivered to the tumour, while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue. However, in contrast to other forms of radiotherapy, dosimetry for MRT is not well established. Researchers from EMRP project Metrology for molecular radiotherapy (HLT11 MetroMRT) developed the new standard.  A gas-filled ionisation chamber, containing two parallel electrodes an adjustable distance apart, enables the user to measure the absorbed radiation dose from a radioactive solution.