ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app

February 17, 2025

Centre for Medical Radiation Physics celebrates 25 years of research breakthroughs

World-renowned researchers and clinicians to recognise milestone at prestigious conference this week

For the past 25 years, the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP) has revolutionised the fields of radiation measurement and the study of radiation at microscopic levels.

This transformation has been driven by groundbreaking advancements in radiation detector technology, sophisticated electronic systems for data processing, enhanced computer models that simulate radiation behaviour, and the creation of biocompatible nanoparticles.

CMRP’s pioneering research has significantly advanced cancer treatment quality assurance with radiation therapy and disease management alongside our understanding of space radiation effects on humans and electronics.

Founded in 2000 at the University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app (ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app) by Distinguished Professor , a global authority in medical dosimetry, the Centre began with just two academics and two PhD students.

Professor Rozenfeld, an outstanding, impactful researcher who has attracted more than $18 million in funding and is world-renowned for his research on semiconductor radiation detectors, reflected on the origins of the CMRP.

“Initially, I established the Radiation Physics Group in 1994. We secured our first National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant in 1996, and by 2000, the University elevated us to a centre. The official opening was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of the time, Professor Gerard Sutton,” he said.

Today, CMRP is Australasia and the Pacific’s largest education and research institution in its field. It boasts a team of 18 academics and research fellows and more than 70 postgraduate students, including nearly 50 PhD candidates.

The Centre’s anniversary coincides with ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app’s 50^th birthday, which it is celebrating throughout this year.

The Centre’s impressive roster of established academics and PhD candidates work with experts from across the world. Professor Rozenfeld attributes much of CMRP’s success to its collaborative ethos.

“Our researchers are revolutionising cancer treatment through partnerships with clinical and academic experts worldwide,” he said.

This week, the Centre celebrates its 25^th anniversary while hosting the prestigious international research conferences of Mini Micro Nano Dosimetry in conjunction with Innovation Technologies in Radiation Oncology (MMND-ITRO 2025).

Co-hosted with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the event will take place from Tuesday to Saturday (February 18-22) in Sydney.

The event will bring together an incredible roster of experts in medical radiation devices, radiation oncologists, and medical physicists.

Professor Rozenfeld said the conference is an opportunity to showcase the remarkable talent of CMRP’s current and former researchers

“This biannual conference has 25 years history like CMRP has and has played an important role in advanced radiation oncology technology transfer to Australia and sharing our achievements with the rest of the world for the benefit of the better cancer treatment. 

“New radiation oncology technologies, like spatially fractionated radiation therapy, FLASH therapy, particle therapy including Neutron Capture Enhanced Particle Therapy and revisiting Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, will special features of the event,” Professor Rozenfeld said.

“We are thrilled to welcome alumni who now hold prominent positions in hospitals, academia, government agencies and medical device industries across the United States, Europe, Asia, and in the Middle East.”

The Centre’s contributions extend beyond medical radiation physics into space technology.

As one of six partners in Australia’s National Space Qualification Network, CMRP collaborates with NASA and the European Space Agency to test space electronics under extreme space radiation conditions.

It also plays an active role in Australia’s space program, including in space medicine to address safety astronauts during the space missions, contributing to initiatives such as the .

In addition to its research achievements, CMRP continues to secure significant funding.

Earlier this year, it received more than $2 million from the NHMRC for two groundbreaking projects:

• Microbeam Radiotherapy: Exploring innovative treatments for tumours resistant to conventional therapies.
• BioDosi: Developing a quality assurance device to optimise proton therapy treatments while minimising harm to healthy tissues.

As CMRP marks 25 years, the Centre stands as a testament to how visionary leadership and collaborative innovation can drive transformative advancements in science and medicine.

Professor Rozenfeld said he is proud of all the Centre has achieved and of what the future holds.

“I am so lucky with the team of talented, dedicated and pleasant personalities we built during the last 25 years, and I do not have any doubt about the ongoing success of the CMRP. It will continue to make an important contribution to maintain strong national and international recognition and leadership of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app in the fields of medical radiation physics, space radiation effects, and nuclear technologies.”

, a founding member and now Deputy Director of the CMRP as well as Associate Dean of Research in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½app’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, said it had been incredible to be part of the Centre as it has grown over the past quarter century.

“Anatoly’s outstanding contribution to the medical radiation physics field of research has grown together with ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½apps international reputational recognition, which is world leading in this area,” he said.

“His commitment and dedication to mentoring higher degree candidates and early career researchers is clearly demonstrated by the high-level of their achievements, the seniority of their current career positions, and the huge diversity in their associated nature of radiation related employment all over the world.”