Schuemann Lab

Overview
Our lab combines theoretical and experimental approaches to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of how cells and tissues respond to radiation. We integrate advanced modeling with cutting-edge biological and chemical experiments to bridge physics, chemistry, and biology.

1. Cell-Scale Monte Carlo Simulations
   We use Monte Carlo simulations to model radiation-induced damage at the sub-cellular level and pair these with mechanistic models of DNA repair kinetics and radiobiological experiments. Our framework (TOPAS-nBio) builds the basis of many of our studies, including:
   1. The impact of DNA organization on radiation sensitivity
   2. Radiation-triggered prodrug release
   3. Radiation enhancement using nanoparticles
   4. Mechanisms of healthy tissue sparing at ultra-high dose rates (UHDR)
2. The FLASH Effect
   UHDR irradiation has been observed to spare healthy tissue while maintaining tumor control. This phenomenon is known as the FLASH effect, which could be a game-changer in radiation therapy. However, many questions remain, including identifying the underlying mechanism.  To explore these, we integrate:
   1. Mechanistic modeling
   2. Radiation chemistry experiments
   3. In vivo and in vitro studies
3. Multi-Scale Cellular Automaton Models
   Some radiation effects arise from interactions across multiple spatial scales. Our cellular automaton models capture how microenvironmental factors, such as oxygen gradients and vascular supply, influence radiation response beyond the single-cell level.
4. Macroscopic Monte Carlo simulations
   We are part of the core team that develops and maintains the TOPAS Monte Carlo code. TOPAS (since the OpenTOPAS release) is a fully open software offering accurate simulations at the CT scale for multiple radiation therapy and imaging approaches.