Work with heavy ions earns Professor Durante an achievement award from the BIR

Head of the biophysics research department at the GSI Helmholtzzent rum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany, Professor Marco Durante, has received the BIR Medal for Outstanding International Achievement. The award ceremony took place during the Annual Radiotherapy and Oncology Meeting of The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) in London.

The BIR Medal recognises transformative and outstanding achievement in radiology, radiation oncology and associated sciences across the world. Professor Durante is being honoured for his important work on cancer therapy with high energy heavy ions. He was invited to give a plenary lecture on particle therapy in London.

The award is presented in the form of a medal and includes honorary fellowship of the BIR. Consideration of suitable recipients is made every two years by the BIR nomination and judging panel. Professor Durante is an internationally recognised expert in the fields of radiation biology and medical physics, especially for therapy with heavy ions and radioprotection in space. He made important scientific progress in the field of biodosimetry of charged particles, optimisation of particle therapy and shielding of heavy ions in space. He studied physics and got his PhD at the University Federico II in Italy. His postdoc positions took him to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Texas and to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan. During his studies, he specialised in charged particle therapy, cosmic radiation, radiation cytogenetics and radiation biophysics.

Picture: Professor Marco Durante receives his award from BIR president Dr Nicholas Screaton.

Read this report on page 10 of the May 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.

The content on this page is provided by the individuals concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.