Personalized dosimetry: Brazilian technology brings tailored treatment to the fight against cancer

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Advances in nuclear medicine have made cancer treatment increasingly precise and personalized. A technology developed by researchers affiliated with Coppe/UFRJ shows how academic research can be transformed into solutions which support doctors and benefit patients.

Created by a graduate from Coppe’s Nuclear Engineering Program, the Dosimagem startup developed an online service specialized in calculating with high precision the radiation dose that a cancer patient receives during treatment with radiopharmaceuticals. This fine-tuning allows for more effective and safer therapies, increasing the treatment’s chances of success and reducing possible side effects.

The company was founded by Cuban-born Brazilian researcher Mirta Berdeguez, who holds a doctorate from Coppe’s Nuclear Engineering Program (PEN) and is a former postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory for Environmental Analysis and Computational Simulation (Laasc). The technology developed by the startup transforms years of academic research into a practical tool for hospitals, clinics and research centers.

The online platform created by the company allows clinics and institutions from any region of Brazil to have quick access to a specialized dosimetry analysis service based on medical images. The technology supports both clinical research and the development of new radiopharmaceutical therapies, taking into account the individual characteristics of each patient and their tumor. The result is a more personalized treatment, with greater control of the therapeutic dose and less risk of damage to healthy organs.

According to Mirta, the application of the technique is already promising in different types of cancer, especially in cases of thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, bone metastasis associated with prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors and liver cancer.

From academic research to innovation that reaches patients

The work that gave rise to Dosimagem began during Mirta’s doctoral studies at Coppe, under the supervision of Professor Ademir Xavier. The research was developed in partnership with UFRJ’S Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, bringing together basic science and clinical practice.

The goal was clear: transforming the knowledge of applied nuclear physics into solutions that could improve the treatment of cancer patients.

In 2019, the researcher submitted the project to Faperj’s Entrepreneur Doctor program. Two years later, the Dosimagem startup was officially born, founded in partnership with Harlley Hauradou (CTO), a doctoral student at PEN, and Leandro Almeida (CCO).

The company is an example of how the science and innovation ecosystem of public universities can generate high-impact solutions. The startup is based at Coppe’s Business Incubator, went through the Ibmec Hubs acceleration program, and remains linked to the Entrepreneur Doctor program.

“We are from applied nuclear physics and we seek to make the research we develop useful to society,” explains Mirta. “Even after creating the company, we continue to work in partnership with the university, offering scholarships to researchers from Coppe and other UFRJ units.”

Why personalized dosimetry is a game-changer in cancer treatment

The so-called precision medicine seeks to adapt therapies to each patient’s characteristics. In the case of nuclear medicine, personalized dosimetry is the element that allows this precision to be effectively applied.

Among the main benefits are:

Lower toxicity to the body

The treatment acts as a kind of “intelligent bomb” at the molecular level, concentrating radiation on tumor cells and reducing the impact on the rest of the body.

Greater tumor control

Dosimetry ensures that the energy deposited is sufficient to destroy malignant cells, avoiding insufficient doses that could allow the disease to return.

Protection of healthy organs

Organs near the tumor have radiation tolerance limits. Personalized dosimetry accurately calculates how much each healthy organ will receive, preventing damage and sequelae.

Adaptable treatment

If the tumor shrinks during treatment, the dose can be recalculated to match the patient’s new anatomical reality.

From Coppe to the world

The potential of the technology has also sparked international interest. The startup participated in the global innovation event 4YFN (Four Years From Now), held at Fira Barcelona, ​​one of the largest trade fair and event centers in Europe.

The company’s presence at the event was part of the Brazil Pavilion and had the support of ApexBrasil and the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Innovation Diplomacy program.

According to Leandro Almeida, the company’s commercial director, the international market is already showing strong interest in nuclear medicine technologies.

“Brazil still needs to advance in the regulatory framework to expand the use of these technologies. In Europe, the rules are already clearer, and countries like Spain have encouraged the adoption of innovative solutions in the area,” he explains.