Timothy C. Zhu, Ph.D.

Description of Research Expertise

My research focuses on PDT physics and external beam treatment planning. The first area involves the development of explicit and implicit dosimetry of PDT and light fluence rate calculation. The second area involves development of benchmark database for external beams (electron, photon, and proton) and image co-registrations. I have developed an integrated system for interstitial PDT light delivery and dosimetry for bulky tumors, including prostate and H&N cancers. A real-time treatment planning system is developed for intracavitory PDT utilizing an IR navigation system to track the real-time movement of the light source, including Pleural PDT. These techniques utilizes real-time feedback of light dosimetry to inform the 3D volumetric or 2D superficial light fluence calculations for PDT in heterogeneous environment. As a board certified Physicist in radiation oncology, I have been involved in the development of computational treatment planning system for external beams, medical imaging registration, radiation dose calculation, and patient motion monitoring.