Curriculum

This module will introduce the principles and concepts related to atomic and nuclear structure, nuclear energetics and radioactive decay. The different types of radiation and their sources/production will be discussed in the context of medical physics, and the main quantities and units used for describing radiation fields will be introduced. This will be followed by a review of the interactions of ionising radiations (photons, electrons, heavy charged particles and neutrons) with matter, with emphasis on energy deposition and attenuation in different media.

The module will introduce radiation dosimetry, the types and general characteristics of radiation dosimeters and detectors and how they are used for dose estimations and image formation in the areas of health physics, medical imaging and radiotherapy. The lectures will review the physics of a variety of dosimetry approaches and the principles which form the basis of dosimetric measurement. The configurations and operation of ion chambers will be discussed in addition to their specific applications for calibration of devices. A range of relative dosimetry techniques will be examined, including thermoluminescent, film, optically stimulated luminescence, MOSFET, semiconductor and gel dosimetry. Furthermore, the lectures will introduce the design and operation of a range of commonly-used detectors, such as pulse-mode, scintillation and semiconductor detectors. The module will examine how radiation interacts with different detector materials, their particular detection characteristics and their specific applications in the areas of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging physics.

The module will begin by providing a brief account of the history of diagnostic medical imaging and an overview of specific mathematical methods relevant to the area. The lectures will review X-ray beam production and X-ray tube construction, and provide an introduction into the principles which form the basis of projection radiography for patient. The physical properties of image receptors and their effect on imaging characteristics and quality, such as image contrast, noise, and spatial and temporal resolution, will be examined. The lectures will introduce the modalities of computed and digital radiography, fluoroscopy, mammography, DEXA and dental radiography. For each, specific imaging modes, detector technologies, the use of radiographic contrast agents and performance testing will be discussed. The lectures will progress to the basic principles and scanning modes of Computed Tomography (CT), reviewing reconstruction techniques, imaging artifacts and parameters that affect both the imaging performance and the radiation dose to the patient. Finally, the module will consider the topic of image processing and of medical display monitors.

The module is designed to provide the principles of radiotherapy using external sources of radiation. Linear accelerator design, theory and operation will be described in detail. The characterisation of beams, associated dosimetric quantities and beam calibration is also presented. The principles of the treatment planning process, including volume definition, dose prescription, dose modelling and external beam dose distributions will be specifically dealt with. The module will also introduce the principles of the quality assurance (QA) programmes and techniques required for the safe delivery of radiation therapy treatments. Principles and methods of calculated and measured dose verification are presented.

The aim is to provide students with a strong grounding in the analysis of experimental Physics data in the Python programming language. The contents will cover the basics of statistics, error analysis and propagation of errors, curve fitting and parameter estimation, chi-squared tests for goodness of fit, Monte Carlo simulations and maximum likelihood methods. Python topics will be intertwined with data analysis topics to build Python skills at the same time. Students will learn from doing examples themselves in-class in an Active Learning Room environment as well as assignments. The error analysis section of the course will pay close attention to the Guide to the expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (G.U.M.) reference document adopted by many scientific organisations and industries.

This module will introduce students to the anatomical structures and physiological functions of the human body in the healthy and diseased state. The module will focus on the systems of the human body most relevant to the field of biomedical engineering and medical device technologies.
The module will introduce the structure and function of these systems, providing students with an understanding of how they operate and interact, with an emphasis on the control strategies and mechanism that regulate function. The changes that take place with disease will be outlined to provide students with the background necessary to understand and develop biomedical engineering approaches to the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of major disorders. Examples of biomedical engineering applications in the fields of prosthetics, cardiovascular systems, neuromodulation and imaging will be discussed.

This module is designed to provide an introduction to radiation protection and safety principles specific to the area of medical physics. The module begins by providing a concise historical account of radiation effects and the subsequent development of the system of radiological protection. The lectures include an overview of the relevant EU and Irish legislation which governs the protection of workers and members of the public from the harmful effects of ionising radiation, and sets out the basic safety standards for protection against dangers arising from medical exposure to ionising radiation. Internal and external radiation dose estimation techniques, for radiation exposure from a range of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy procedures, are discussed for patients, staff and members of the public. Lectures provide an introduction to radiation shielding principles, procedure room design and practical approaches towards optimum radiological protection and special protective measures in the hospital environment. Lectures also include an overview of radiation risk assessment approaches, considering and addressing the possibility of exposures from foreseeable incidents. Finally, best practice safety procedures when using ultraviolet (UV) radiation, Laser radiation and Electro-medical devices are discussed.

The module examines a number of different imaging modalities: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Ultrasound. The physics principles, image formation techniques and hardware for MRI will be outlined. Further, detailed lectures on some pulse sequences will be provided, progressing to the most recent advanced MRI imaging methods. In the Nuclear Medicine section, an overview of scintigraphy imaging for planar and SPECT acquisitions using the gamma camera will be provided, in addition to the reconstruction methods employed. The radioisotopes used, their production, and radiochemical and radiopharmaceutical aspects will also be introduced. The lectures will review PET imaging, detailing the production of radioisotopes, imaging modes and image formation. Some aspects of radionuclide therapy and theranostics will also be introduced. Ultrasound imaging principles and equipment will be outlined, with a detailed account provided of common methods for anatomical imaging, Doppler physiological measurement and some advanced imaging modes. Future applications of ultrasound for therapeutic purposes will be introduced and discussed. In addition, for each specific modality, imaging quality, image artifacts, performance tests and safety issues will be outlined.

The module is designed to introduce the theory and practice of brachytherapy using radioactive sources or electronic devices. Some specialised delivery units and advanced techniques will be examined and compared to conventional radiotherapy with linacs. Principals and practice of image guided radiotherapy will be explored in detail along with the effect of margin calculation and introduction to adaptive radiotherapy techniques. Intracranial and body stereotactic radiotherapy treatment approaches for a range of clinical sites will be presented and discussed. Principles and methods of calculated and measured dose verification are presented for conventional and stereotactic treatments, along with quality assurance programmes and limitations.

This module is designed to provide an introduction to a number of topics including radiobiology, professionalism, leadership and ethics, all of which are relevant to the area of medical physics. The radiobiology section details the principles of radiation interaction with biological cells, the possibility of tissue injuries and their subsequent mechanisms of repair. The lectures provide insight into the kinetics of biological cells and how this knowledge and modelling may be used for improved therapeutic techniques. The professionalism section provides an overview of the professional expectations of a medical physicist, while the topic of effective leadership is discussed. Finally, ethical issues encountered for healthcare professionals, researchers and academics are reviewed.

This module will provide the student with a comprehensive knowledge of normal cross sectional human anatomy of the head, neck and trunk. The modalities of Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in particular will be used in correlation with cadaveric cross sections to acquaint students primarily with normal anatomy as seen clinically. This module will be delivered completely via electronic learning using online lectures, videos and electronic resources hosted on Brightspace and does not require attendance in UCD. Assessments will be conducted in UCD for UCD based full time students but online via Brightspace for non UCD based students.

The key objectives of this module are:

1. to provide students with an initial crash course in Python programming; 
2. to familiarise students with a range of key topics in the emerging field of Data Science through the medium of Python. 

Students will start by exploring methods for collecting, storing, filtering, and analysing datasets. From there, the module will introduce core concepts from numerical computing, statistics, and machine learning, and demonstrate how these can be applied in practice using popular open source packages and tools. Additional topics that will be covered include data visualisation and working with textual data. This module has a strong practical programming focus and students will be expected to complete two detailed coursework assignments, each involving implementing a Python solution to a data analytics task.

COMP47670 requires a reasonable level of mathematical ability, and students should have prior programming experience (but not necessarily in Python).

This is a Mixed Delivery module with online lectures and face to face practicals/tutorials.

In this module, the student completes a research project in an academic or clinical workplace relevant to the medical physics sector. The projects may be experimental and/or theoretical in nature, as devised by the academic/clinical supervisor, and may be offered in areas such as diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, radiation protection, radiation oncology physics, detectors and dosimetry, and radiobiology. The student will apply the knowledge and core skills acquired in the taught modules, whilst developing additional research and professional skills relevant to medical physics.