Developing interactive linac and CT scanner simulations for global learners
Radiation therapy is an essential part of cancer care, with approximately half of all patients receiving radiation to cure and control tumors, manage pain or provide palliative relief. However, the specialized equipment and expertise required — including X-ray CT scanners and linear accelerators (linacs) — can be difficult to access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Medical physicists, radiation technologists and oncologists in these regions often face limited training opportunities due to high equipment costs, a shortage of experienced trainers, geographic barriers and rapid advancements that outpace traditional teaching methods.
A collaboration with nonprofit Medical Physics for World Benefit, led by Parminder Basran and Farzin Lotfi-Jam, aims to bridge this gap by creating augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) models of linacs and CT scanners. Global trainees can use these simulations on smartphones to deepen their understanding of complex cancer imaging technology and therapy. Several Cornell undergraduates will work in the Basran and Lotfi-Jam labs to help design, test and evaluate the models in ten LMIC training programs. By equipping global learners with essential technical skills, the project hopes to serve as a model for delivering AR/VR tools in resource-limited settings through community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Developing interactive linac and CT scanner simulations for global learners
Radiation therapy is an essential part of cancer care, with approximately half of all patients receiving radiation to cure and control tumors, manage pain or provide palliative relief. However, the specialized equipment and expertise required — including X-ray CT scanners and linear accelerators (linacs) — can be difficult to access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Medical physicists, radiation technologists and oncologists in these regions often face limited training opportunities due to high equipment costs, a shortage of experienced trainers, geographic barriers and rapid advancements that outpace traditional teaching methods.
A collaboration with nonprofit Medical Physics for World Benefit, led by Parminder Basran and Farzin Lotfi-Jam, aims to bridge this gap by creating augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) models of linacs and CT scanners. Global trainees can use these simulations on smartphones to deepen their understanding of complex cancer imaging technology and therapy. Several Cornell undergraduates will work in the Basran and Lotfi-Jam labs to help design, test and evaluate the models in ten LMIC training programs. By equipping global learners with essential technical skills, the project hopes to serve as a model for delivering AR/VR tools in resource-limited settings through community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Parminder Basran, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Farzin Lotfi-Jam, Department of Architecture, College of Architecture, Art and Planning
- Community Partner: Medical Physics for World Benefit
Providing seed support for a wide range of community-engaged learning projects