Search results

The conference is co-organized by the University of Namur, Belgium and Wuhan University of Technology, China and supported by Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and other organisms.More info on the GCMC2025 website...

Abstract Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment and is currently administered to approximately half of all cancer patients. However, the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation on normal tissues represent a major limitation, as they restrict the dose that can be safely delivered to patients and, consequently, reduce the likelihood of effective tumor control. In this context, delivering radiation at ultra-high dose rates (UHDR, > 40 Gy/s) is gaining increasing attention due to its potential to spare healthy tissues surrounding the tumor and to prevent radiation-induced side effects, as compared to conventional dose rates (CONV, on the order of Gy/min).The mechanism underlying this protective effect-termed the FLASH effect-remains elusive, driving intensive research to elucidate the biological processes triggered by this type of irradiation.In vitro models offer a valuable tool to support this research, allowing for the efficient screening of various beam parameters and biological responses in a time- and cost-effective manner. In this study, multicellular tumor spheroids and normal cells were exposed to proton irradiation at UHDR to evaluate its efficacy in controlling tumor growth and its cytotoxic impact on healthy tissues, respectively.We report that UHDR and CONV irradiation induced a comparable growth delay in 3D tumor spheroids, suggesting similar efficacy in tumor control. In normal cells, both dose rates induced similar levels of senescence; however, UHDR irradiation led to lower apoptosis induction at clinically relevant doses and early time points post-irradiation.Taken together, these findings further highlight the potential of UHDR irradiation to modulate the response of normal tissues while maintaining comparable tumor control.JuryProf. Thomas BALLIGAND (UNamur), PresidentProf. Stéphane LUCAS (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Carine MICHIELS (UNamur)Dr Sébastien PENNINCKX (Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles)Prof. Cristian FERNANDEZ (University of Bern)Dr Rudi LABARBE (IBA)

The scientific programme will include 14 academics presenting their work during keynote lectures, a series of oral communications presented by tenured professors, experienced researchers, PhD students or postdoctoral fellows, and two poster sessions. More information and registration

For their research activities, NISM Institute researchers rely on technology platform teams, each of which houses state-of-the-art equipment, technical know-how and cutting-edge expertise. They are accessible to the scientific community as well as to industry.

Research at NISM is identified by four poles, which highlight the main scientific activities carried out within the institute. Each pole has a well-defined structure with members, and is managed by the pole representative. The structuring does not prevent ongoing cooperation between them. Indeed, there is well-established interaction between the various clusters, through joint projects, conferences, seminars, co-supervision of master's and doctoral theses, among others..

The expertise of the Functional Structured Materials (FSM) pole is divided into two interconnected areas: the development of 3D porous architectures and the functionalization of nanostructures.

The Institute's research projects, publications and collaborations include all categories of researchers. Led by academic promoters, they mobilize post-doctoral researchers, PhD students and even master's students (student-researchers).

The NISM Institute's Multi-scale Modeling through High-Performance Computing (HPC-MM) cluster aims to share techniques, skills and computational tools to develop new materials and predict their final properties. It also aims to improve modeling techniques and computer codes to take into account most of the chemistry and physics of structured matter.

The Nonlinear Optics and Photonics cluster (NOP) develops experimental, theoretical and numerical research in various fields of optics, mainly in nonlinear optics and photonics, including plasmonics and quantum optics.

The Surfaces, Interfaces and Carbon Nanostructures (SICN) pole is active in the synthesis, characterization and modeling of new materials, with a particular focus on interfaces between two distinct phases and for low-carbon materials.

An international team of researchers has just published an article in the prestigious journal Light: Science & Applications (LSA) from the Nature group.  The teams led by Professors Michaël Lobet and Alexandre Mayer (University of Namur) collaborated with the team led by Professor Shanhui Fan, one of the leading experts in the field, from the prestigious Stanford University in California (USA).  The result: an article entitled ‘Twist-Induced Beam Steering and Blazing Effects in Photonic Crystal Devices’, or the study of beam deflection by twisting in photonic crystal devices.  Come on, let's twist light again at UNamur! 

Angélique Aristondo, a C2W post-doctoral fellow at UNamur, has distinguished herself by winning the second 2023 Gender and Health Research Award from the ARES Women and Science Committee. Her research project focuses on violence against women in Senegal.