Description:
Presenter: Dr Melanie Ferlazzo and Dr Stefania Peracchi
Date/Time: Tuesday 28 April at 12:30pm
Location: Physics Foundation Room (Building A28, Room 208, University of Sydney) and Zoom
Title: ANSTO's Ion Irradiations Facilities for Radiobiology Research
Abstract: ANSTO’s Centre for Accelerator Science (CAS) hosts the only microprobe beamline facilities in Australia and one of few in the Southern Hemisphere that provide precise and flexible ion beam irradiation capabilities. These microprobes are designed to deliver focused beams that allow researchers to study how materials and biological systems respond to radiation at very micrometre scales. Another unique feature of the CAS microprobe is its in-ambient irradiation chamber: this is the only facility in Australia which enables samples to be exposed to ion beams such as protos, carbon, oxygen and heavier, in air rather than under vacuum. This setup allows the irradiation of biological living samples, representing the a state of art facility for radiobiology research, enabling research into cellular responses to charged particles, DNA damage mechanisms, preclinical studies, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of radiation-induced effects. The talk will provide an overview of the ANSTO CAS microprobe beamlines, highlight the design and operation of the in-ambient chamber, and discuss how these features are expanding the types of radiobiology experiments that can be performed at CAS, supported by biology laboratories in the proximity of the irradiation hall. Recent applications and pathways for future research will also be presented.
Bio:
Dr Melanie Ferlazzo
Dr Melanie Ferlazzo is a radiation biologist and Accelerator Scientist at ANSTO’s Centre for Accelerator Science (CAS). Her work focuses on developing irradiation radiobiology capabilities to support research and industry interested in conducting accelerator-based experimentation for radiobiology studies with ion beams. In 2019, she joined ANSTO Human HRTG as post-doctoral researcher under a collaborative project with CNES (French Space Agency), INSERM 1296 Radiation: Defence, Health and Environment. This project aimed to study the effects of metallic and secondary particles of space interest to offer protective counter measures for long manned space flights. Dr Ferlazzo contributed to the development of the external chamber for in air irradiation he ANTARES accelerator providing radiobiology expertise.
Dr Melanie Ferlazzo completed her PhD at INSERM U1296 in Lyon, France (2015–2017) under the supervision of Dr Nicolas Foray, where she investigated the cytonuclear transit of the ATM protein in response to ionising radiation. Her thesis, titled “Impact of the cytonuclear transit of the ATM protein in response to ionizing radiation: notions of pro- and anti-episkevia,” provided a radiobiological characterisation of radiosensitive genetic syndromes that do not involve mutations in classical DNA-repair genes.
Dr Stefania Peracchi
Dr Stefania Peracchi is a nuclear physicist and current Irradiations Team Lead at the Centre for Accelerator Science. She is a space radiation specialist, leading the Irradiation team to exploit the powerful sources from the accelerators SIRIUS and ANTARES to conduct radiation effects research on elecronics, advanced materials and biological samples.
Dr Stefania Peracchi currently works on the advancement of radiation testing capabilities at ANSTO’s Centre for Accelerator Science (CAS), playing a key role in enhancing facility offerings and aligning them with evolving space qualification needs. She collaborates across the National Space Qualification Network (NSQN) to expand national awareness and emphasise the critical role of ANSTO suite of radiation facilities at national and international level. Dr Peracchi supports a broad user base from academia and industry, providing technical expertise, access to specialised ion beamlines, and tailored irradiation solutions for the testing of space-bound technologies. Her numerous years of research in nuclear physics have enriched her knowledge in nuclear medicine technologies and radiobiology, which Dr. Peracchi currently applies in her position at ANSTO on projects related to new radiotherapy treatments such as proton therapy
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