NARILIS radiobiology research recognized with “First Abstract Submission Prize” at PTCOG 64 !

NARILIS radiobiology research recognized with “First Abstract Submission Prize” at PTCOG 64 !

NARILIS radiobiology research has received international recognition at the 64th Annual Conference of the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group (PTCOG 64), held in Deauville from June 8–13, 2026. The team led by Prof. Anne-Catherine Heuskin was awarded the First Abstract Submission Prize for their research exploring how gold nanoparticles make tumor cells more sensitive to radiotherapy and promote anti-cancer immune responses.

Anne-Catherine Heuskin, a physicist and expert in radiobiology and nanotechnology, leads a research team at the LARN laboratory of UNamur. Her team investigates cellular responses to radiation, with the ultimate goal of improving cancer radiation therapy. The lab is equipped with an Altaïs Tandetron Linear Accelerator and an X-ray irradiator, allowing to irradiate in vitro cell cultures or small 3D models with charged particles (protons, He+ particles, Li+ ions, carbon ion or photons). The team also has extensive experience in the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and has previously contributed to elucidate the mechanisms by which gold nanoparticles increase tumor cell radiosensitivity (Penninckx et al., 2020).

At PTCOG, Anne-Catherine presented results from the doctoral thesis of Shalini Iyer (Iyer et al., 2026), and the postdoctoral research of Camila Ramos Silva (Silva et al., 2026). Their work shows that gold nanoparticle-mediated radiosensitization may offer a dual benefit. First, gold nanoparticles enhance the direct killing of tumor cells by radiation. At the same time, they can modulate the tumor microenvironment in a way that stimulates anti-cancer immunity.

These findings highlight the potential of combining nanotechnology with radiotherapy to enhance treatment efficacy and improve outcomes, particularly for cancers that are resistant to conventional therapies.

Read the abstract: Enhancing radiotherapy efficacy through gold nanoparticle-mediated radiosensitization and immunogenic modulation