Prof. Durante Group

How does ionizing radiation affect soft matter? The multidisciplinary research in our group covers many different topics which can be roughly summarized in the categories radiobiology, physics, space research and therapy. Dr. Durante heads the biophysics department at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt and holds a professorship at the Department of Physics at the TU Darmstadt.

 
Team
Team
Research areas
Research areas
Publications
Publications
Study & Teaching
Study & Teaching

Research areas

Molecular radiobiology and imaging

We study the induction and repair of DNA in mammalian cells after exposure to heavy ions. The nature of the damage and its repair has indeed significant differences with respect to X-rays, due to the different physical dose deposition pattern. Moreover, the high lesion density induced by very heavy ions allows for accurate visualization and quantification of DNA repair protein recruitment.

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Stem cell differentiation and cytogenetics

We are interested in the effects of ionizing radiation on organs such as the brain, the heart, and the lung trying to elucidate the risks for patients treated with ionizing radiation as well as for astronauts, who are inevitably exposed to ionizing radiation on their missions into space.

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Immune system and tissue radiobiology

Research topics in this area include the impact of low dose radon exposure on the organism, immunogenicity and immunomodulation of radiation, radiation response of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, as well as heavy ion induced late effects in tissue.

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Clinical radiobiologoy

Research topics in this area include hibernation as protection for space mission and radiotherapy, tumor hypoxia, radioprotection, innovative 3D in vitro models, and FLASH irradiation.

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Radiobiological modelling

In this area, we focus on the development and application of mathematical models describing and predicting biologic effects as well as associated uncertainties after exposure to ionizing radiation.

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Treatment planning and validation

We investigate the interaction of charged particle beams with matter on multiple scales. Main research topics include macroscopic dose distribution, microscopic Monte Carlo calculations, and experimental validation of treatment planning.

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Medical physics

We develop and investigate efficient motion mitigation techniques including beam gating, rescanning, beam tracking, and 4D-optimization strategies. The primary aim is to achieve conformal dose coverage with maximum sparing of healthy tissue.

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Space radiation physics

Because shielding is difficult and costly in space, the effects of the cosmic radiation should be known as accurately as possible in order to optimize the shielding measures and to exploit the shielding properties of materials used for other purposes, such as the spacecraft hull, internal equipment, fuel and supplies.

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Study and Teaching

Summer term 2026

Lecture 05-21-1662-vl Radiation Biophysics

Exercise 05-23-1662-ue Radiation Biophysics

Winter term 2025 / 2026

No courses

Summer term 2025

Lecture 05-21-1662-vl Radiation Biophysics

Exercise 05-23-1662-ue Radiation Biophysics

Winter term 20243 / 2025

No courses

Summer term 2024

Lecture 05-21-1662-vl Radiation Biophysics

Exercise 05-23-1662-ue Strahlenbiophysik

Winter term 2023 / 2024

No courses

Summer term 2023

Lecture Radiation Biophysics

Exercise Strahlenbiophysik

Winter term 2022/2023

Lecture Medical Physics

Exercise Medical Physics

Summer term 2022

Lecture Radiation Biophysics

Exercise Strahlenbiophysik

Winter term 2021/2022

Lecture Medical Physics

Exercise Medical Physics

Summer term 2021

Lecture Radiation Biophysics

Exercise Radiation Biophysics

Winter term 2020/2021

Lecture Medical Physics

Exercise Medical Physics

Unsolicited applications

If you are interested in our research field, please contact us to discuss opportunities for student assistantship (Studentische Hilfskraft) and BSc, MSc, PhD or PostDoc projects. Your application is always welcome …

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