David Westerly, PhD

Radioactive Foil Therapy for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

This project focuses on developing a novel treatment approach for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), specifically basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The researchers have been investigating the use of beta-emitting radioisotopes (Holmium-166 or Yttrium-90) embedded in thin films to treat NMSCs with improved sparing of normal tissues. The grant aims to better understand the market for this technology and to further develop the device so that it’s safety and tolerability can be demonstrated in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The team comprises physicists, medical physicists, and physicians, bringing together a range of clinical and technical expertise to advance this innovative treatment device for the benefit of NMSC patients and dermatologists. Collaborators: Quentin Diot, PhD, Frederic Sarazin, PhD, Professor and Department Head of Physics at Colorado School of Mines and Jeramy Zimmerman, PhD, Associate Professor of Physics at Colorado School of Mines