APrf Scott Penfold
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
College of Science
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am a Certified Medical Physics Specialist within the field of Radiation Oncology. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Wollongong (UoW) and was awarded the University Medal in the Faculty of Engineering in 2006. I subsequently went on to complete my PhD in a joint project with UoW and Loma Linda University Medical Center in California.In 2010, during the last year of my PhD, I began clinical medical physics training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). In 2013 I sat my final certification exam and joined the ACPSEM register of certified medical physics specialists.In September 2013, I joined the University of Adelaide (UoA) Department of Physics as a half-time academic, while also retaining half-time employment at the RAH. I am currently working as the postgraduate co-ordinator for Medical Physics at UoA. My roles include undergraduate practical demonstration and lecturing, and postgraduate lecturing and research supervision.My research interests predominantly lie in proton therapy and quantitative imaging for image guided radiotherapy.
My PhD studies were focussed on image reconstruction algorithms for proton computed tomography (pCT). Proton CT differs from the common X-ray CT scanners by using energetic protons to traverse the body as opposed to kilovoltage X-rays. A measurement of the energy lost by protons as they traverse the body in pCT can be used to reconstruct a stopping power map of a patient. This information is useful in the emerging cancer treatment field of proton therapy.
Proton therapy is a highly conformal method of delivering therapeutic doses of radiation to treat cancer. Proton therapy has the advantage over the more common X-ray therapy that protons have a finite range in matter. Therefore, a beam of energetic protons can be directed at the cancer site, minimizing the dose to the surrounding healthy tissue. To be able to stop the proton beam at precisely the right location, an accurate map of proton stopping powers is required. This is the primary purpose of pCT.
The image reconstruction challenge in pCT stems from the fact that protons, as charged particles, interact with the electric fields of atomic electrons and nuclei in the patient tissues and undergo multiple scattering. Most image reconstruction algorithms assume the radiation travelled in a straight line between source and detector and when using this assumption in pCT, poor spatial resolution of the reconstructed image results. Special techniques are required to accurately account for the scattering of the protons in the patient.
In general, my research interests are focussed around proton therapy, including pCT and intensity modulated proton therapy optimization algorithms.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 - ongoing | Lecturer and Medical Physics Program Coordinator | University of Adelaide |
| 2010 - ongoing | Medical Physics Specialist | Royal Adelaide Hospital |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Award | Cancer Institute NSW Research Scholars Award | Cancer Institute NSW | Australia | 25,000 |
| 2006 | Award | University Medal (Faculty of Engineering) | University of Wollongong | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 - 2006 | University of Wollongong | Australia | B Medical Radiation Physics (1st Class Honours) |
| University of Wollongong | Australia | PhD |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Certified Medical Physics Specialist (Radiation Oncology) | Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine | - |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Shierlaw, E., Penfold, M., Crain, R., Santos, A. M. C., & Penfold, S. N. (2024). Dosimetric comparison of gantry and horizontal fixed-beam proton therapy treatment plans for base of skull chordoma. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 71(S2), 19-26. Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2 |
| 2024 | Penfold, S. N., Santos, A. M. C., Penfold, M., Shierlaw, E., & Crain, R. (2024). Single high-energy arc proton therapy with Bragg peak boost (SHARP). Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 71(S2), 27-36. Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC1 |
| 2024 | Shyllon, S., Penfold, S., Dalfsen, R., Kirkness, E., Hug, B., Rowshanfarzad, P., . . . Ebert, M. A. (2024). Dosimetric comparison of proton therapy and CyberKnife in stereotactic body radiation therapy for liver cancers. Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 47(3), 1203-1212. Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2 |
| 2024 | Skelton, K., Gorayski, P., Penfold, S., Murray, A., Hamilton, D., Yeo, A., . . . Le, H. (2024). Australian particle therapy clinical quality registry (ASPIRE) protocol (TROG 21.12): a multicentre prospective study on patients with rare tumours, treated with radiation therapy. BMJ Open, 14(11, article no. e083044), 1-6. |
| 2023 | Penfold, S. N., Dell'Oro, M., Gorayski, P., Hwang, E., Le, H., Penfold, M., . . . Yeo, A. (2023). Proton-to-photon comparative treatment planning guidelines for the Australian context. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 67(3), 320-328. Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC5 |
| 2023 | Herrick, M., Penfold, S., Santos, A., & Hickson, K. (2023). A systematic review of volumetric image guidance in proton therapy. Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 46(33), 963-975. Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC4 |
| 2023 | Herrick, M., Penfold, S., Santos, A., & Hickson, K. (2023). Correction to: A systematic review of volumetric image guidance in proton therapy (Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, (2023), 46, 3, (963-975), 10.1007/s13246-023-01294-9). Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 46(3), 977-979. |
| 2023 | Mark, F., Alnsour, A., Penfold, S. N., Esterman, A., Keys, R., & Le, H. (2023). Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) comparison to 3D-conformal technique in lung stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 70(1), 72-80. Europe PMC1 |
| 2023 | Jessop, S., Penfold, S., Gorayski, P., Le, H., O'Connor, M., Skelton, K., & Tee, H. C. (2023). If we build it, will they come? Modeling of public hospital care requirements for the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 19(4), 525-532. Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC4 |
| 2022 | Santos, A., Penfold, S., Gorayski, P., & Le, H. (2022). The Role of Hypofractionation in Proton Therapy. Cancers, 14(9), 2271. Scopus17 WoS13 Europe PMC10 |
| 2022 | Penfold, S. N. (2022). Radiation shielding assessment of high-energy proton imaging at a proton therapy facility. Medical Physics, 49(8), 5340-5346. Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2 |
| 2021 | Keal, J., Santos, A., Penfold, S., & Douglass, M. (2021). Radiation Dose Calculation in 3D Heterogeneous Media Using Artificial Neural Networks.. Medical physics, 48(5), 2637-2645. Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC7 |
| 2021 | Antoniou, G., & Penfold, S. N. (2021). A novel TPS toolkit to assess correlation between transit fluence dosimetry and DVH metrics for adaptive head and neck radiotherapy. Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 44(4), 1121-1130. Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2021 | Douglass, M., Austin, A., Penfold, S., & Nguyen, G. T. (2021). Individualised selection of left‐sided breast cancer patients for proton therapy based on cost‐effectiveness. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 68(1), 44-51. Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC11 |
| 2021 | Cunningham, L., Penfold, S., Giles, E. G., Le, H., & Short, M. (2021). Impact of breast size on dosimetric indices in proton versus X-ray radiotherapy for breast cancer. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(4, article no. 282), 1-12. Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC4 |
| 2020 | Santos, A. M. C., Kotsanis, A., Cunningham, L., & Penfold, S. N. (2020). Estimating the second primary cancer risk due to proton therapy compared to hybrid IMRT for left sided breast cancer. Acta Oncologica, 60(3), 1-10. Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC7 |
| 2020 | Brooke, M. D., & Penfold, S. N. (2020). An inhomogeneous most likely path formalism for proton computed tomography. Physica Medica, 70, 184-195. Scopus14 WoS13 Europe PMC7 |
| 2020 | Hu, Y., Dalfsen, R., Penfold, S. N., Gorayski, P., Tee, H. C., Penniment, M., & Le, H. (2020). Comparative proton versus photon treatment planning for the Medicare Medical Treatment Overseas Program: The Royal Adelaide Hospital experience. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 64(5), 682-688. Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5 |
| 2020 | Austin, A., Douglass, M., Nguyen, G., & Penfold, S. (2020). Patient selection for proton therapy: A radiobiological fuzzy Markov model incorporating robust plan analysis. Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 43(2), 493-503. Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3 |
| 2019 | Austin, A. M., Douglass, M. J. J., Nguyen, G. T., Dalfsen, R., Le, H., Gorayski, P., . . . Penfold, S. N. (2019). Cost-effectiveness of proton therapy in treating base of skull chordoma. Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 42(4), 1091-1098. Scopus6 WoS3 Europe PMC5 |
| 2018 | Penfold, S. (2018). A positive move: proton therapy in Australia. Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 41(1), 1-2. Europe PMC1 |
| 2017 | Zhu, J., & Penfold, S. (2017). Total variation superiorization in dual-energy CT reconstruction for proton therapy treatment planning. Inverse Problems, 33(4), 18 pages. Scopus5 WoS5 |
| 2017 | Zhu, J., & Penfold, S. (2017). Europium-155 as a source for dual energy cone beam computed tomography in adaptive proton therapy: A simulation study. Medical Physics, 44(10), 5143-5152. Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1 |
| 2017 | Penfold, S. N., & Zhu, J. (2017). Reply to "comment on 'Dosimetric comparison of stopping power calibration with dual-energy CT and single-energy CT in proton therapy treatment planning' [Med. Phys. 43(6), 2845-2854 (2016)]". Medical Physics, 44(10), 5537-5538. |
| 2017 | Austin, A. M., Douglass, M. J. J., Nguyen, G. T., & Penfold, S. N. (2017). A radiobiological Markov simulation tool for aiding decision making in proton therapy referral. Physica Medica, 44, 72-82. Scopus19 WoS18 Europe PMC13 |
| 2017 | Penfold, S., Zalas, R., Casiraghi, M., Brooke, M., Censor, Y., & Schulte, R. (2017). Sparsity constrained split feasibility for dose-volume constraints in inverse planning of intensity-modulated photon or proton therapy. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 62(9), 3599-3618. Scopus30 WoS25 Europe PMC4 |
| 2016 | Zhu, J., & Penfold, S. (2016). Dosimetric comparison of stopping power calibration with dual-energy CT and single-energy CT in proton therapy treatment planning. Medical Physics, 43(6), 2845-2854. Scopus65 WoS53 Europe PMC45 |
| 2016 | Incerti, S., Douglass, M., Penfold, S., Guatelli, S., & Bezak, E. (2016). Review of Geant4-DNA applications for micro and nanoscale simulations. Physica Medica, 32(10), 1187-1200. Scopus119 WoS106 Europe PMC60 |
| 2016 | Zhu, J., & Penfold, S. N. (2016). Review of 3D image data calibration for heterogeneity correction in proton therapy treatment planning. Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 39(2), 379-390. Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1 |
| 2016 | Poignant, F., Penfold, S., Asp, J., Takhar, P., & Jackson, P. (2016). GEANT4 simulation of cyclotron radioisotope production in a solid target. Physica Medica, 32(5), 728-734. Scopus21 WoS19 Europe PMC5 |
| 2015 | Penfold, S., & Censor, Y. (2015). Techniques in Iterative Proton CT Image Reconstruction. Sensing and Imaging, 16(1), 21 pages. Scopus22 WoS20 |
| 2015 | Douglass, M., Bezak, E., & Penfold, S. (2015). Development of a radiation track structure clustering algorithm for the prediction of DNA DSB yields and radiation induced cell death in Eukaryotic cells. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 60(8), 3217-3236. Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC10 |
| 2015 | Douglass, M., Penfold, S., & Bezak, E. (2015). Preliminary investigation of microdosimetric track structure physics models in Geant4-DNA and RITRACKS. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2015, 968429-1-968429-8. Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC2 |
| 2014 | Penfold, S., Brown, M., Staudacher, A., & Bezak, E. (2014). Monte Carlo simulations of dose distributions with necrotic tumor targeted radioimmunotherapy. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 90, 40-45. Scopus10 WoS8 Europe PMC7 |
| 2013 | Douglass, M., Bezak, E., & Penfold, S. (2013). Monte Carlo investigation of the increased radiation deposition due to gold nanoparticles using kilovoltage and megavoltage photons in a 3D randomized cell model. Medical Physics, 40(7), 1-9. Scopus96 WoS85 Europe PMC53 |
| 2012 | Penfold, S., Marcu, L., Lawson, J., & Asp, J. (2012). Evaluation of physician eye lens doses during permanent seed implant brachytherapy for prostate cancer. Journal of Radiological Protection, 32(3), 339-347. Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC1 |
| 2012 | Douglass, M., Bezak, E., & Penfold, S. (2012). Development of a randomized 3D cell model for Monte Carlo microdosimetry simulations. Medical Physics, 39(6), 3509-3519. Scopus30 WoS29 Europe PMC21 |
| 2012 | Bezak, E., Marcu, L., & Penfold, S. (2012). Computational and mathematical modeling of tumor kinetics and response to radiation and chemotherapy. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2012, 702675-1-702675-2. |
| 2012 | Schulte, R. W., & Penfold, S. N. (2012). Proton CT for improved stopping power determination in proton therapy. Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 106, 55-58. Scopus13 Europe PMC9 |
| 2011 | Penfold, S., Rosenfeld, A., Schulte, R., & Sadrozinski, H. (2011). Geometrical optimazation of a particle tracking system for proton computed tomography. Radiation Measurements, 46(12), 2069-2072. Scopus11 WoS10 |
| 2010 | Penfold, S., Schulte, R., Censor, Y., & Rosenfeld, A. (2010). Total variation superiorization schemes in proton computed tomography image reconstruction. Medical Physics, 37(11), 5887-5895. Scopus106 WoS100 Europe PMC59 |
| 2010 | Missaghian, J., Hurley, F., Bashkirov, V., Colby, B., Rykalin, V., Kachigiun, S., . . . Penfold, S. (2010). Beam test results of a CsI calorimeter matrix element. Journal of Instrumentation, 5(6), 13 pages. Scopus6 WoS6 |
| 2009 | Schulte, R., Bashkirov, V., Hurley, F., Penfold, S., Rosenfeld, A., & Patyal, B. (2009). TH‐D‐BRC‐09: A Status Update On the Development of Proton CT at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Medical Physics, 36(6), 2813. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2009 | Penfold, S., Rosenfeld, A., Schulte, R., & Schubert, K. (2009). A more accurate reconstruction system matrix for quantitative proton computed tomography. Medical Physics, 36(10), 4511-4518. Scopus54 WoS47 Europe PMC31 |
| 2008 | Schulte, R., Penfold, S., Tafas, J., & Schubert, K. (2008). A maximum likelihood proton path formalism for application in proton computed tomography. Medical Physics, 35(11), 4849-4856. Scopus181 WoS169 Europe PMC98 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Hurley, F., Schulte, R., Bashkirov, V., Wroe, A., Ghebremedhin, A., Patyal, B., . . . Sadrozinsk, H. (2011). SU‐E‐T‐350: Calibration of a Prototype Proton CT Scanner. In Medical Physics Vol. 38 (pp. 3568). WILEY. DOI WoS2 |
| 2011 | Sadrozinski, H. F. W., Bashkirov, V., Colby, B., Coutrakon, G., Erdelyi, B., Fusi, D., . . . Zatserklaniy, A. (2011). Detector development for Proton Computed Tomography (pCT). In IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (pp. 4457-4461). Valencia, SPAIN: IEEE. DOI Scopus14 WoS12 |
| 2009 | McAllister, S. A., Schubert, K. E., Schulte, R., & Penfold, S. (2009). General purpose graphics processing unit speedup of integral relative electron density calculation for proton computed tomography. In B. Yu (Ed.), IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (pp. 4085-4087). Orlando, FL: IEEE. DOI Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2009 | Penfold, S. N., Schulte, R. W., Censor, Y., Bashkirov, V., & Rosenfeld, A. B. (2009). Characteristics of proton CT images reconstructed with filtered backprojection and iterative projection algorithms. In B. Yu (Ed.), IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (pp. 4176-4180). Orlando, FL: IEEE. DOI Scopus5 WoS5 |
| 2009 | Penfold, S., Rosenfeld, A., Schulte, R., & Sadrozinski, H. (2009). Fast and accurate proton computed tomography image reconstruction for applications in proton therapy. In World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering - Radiation Oncology; IFMBE Proceedings, vol. 25, no. 1 Vol. 25 (pp. 213-216). Germany: Springer. DOI Scopus1 |
| 2009 | Wong, K., Erdelyi, B., Schulte, R., Bashkirov, V., Coutrakon, G., Sadrozinski, H., . . . Rosenfeld, A. (2009). The effect of tissue inhomogeneities on the accuracy of proton path reconstruction for proton computed tomography. In American Institute of Physics Proceedings: 20th International conference, application of accelerators in research and industry Vol. 1099 (pp. 476-480). Online: AIP Publishing. DOI Scopus6 WoS6 |
| 2009 | Bashkirov, V., Schulte, R., Coutrakon, G., Erdelyi, B., Wong, K., Sadrozinski, H., . . . Schubert, K. (2009). Development of proton computed tomography for applications in proton therapy. In AIP Proceedings: Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry: Twentieth International Conference Vol. 1099 (pp. 460-463). Online: AIP Publishing. DOI Scopus15 WoS9 |
| 2007 | Bashkirov, V. A., Schulte, R. W., Penfold, S. N., & Rosenfeld, A. B. (2007). Proton computed tomography: Update on current status. In IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record Vol. 6 (pp. 4685-4688). Honolulu, HI: IEEE. DOI Scopus13 WoS11 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Douglass, M. J. (2014). Development of an Integrated Stochastic Radiobiological Model for Electromagnetic Particle Interactions in a 4D Cellular Geometry. (PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Shyllon, S., Penfold, S., Dalfsen, R., Kirkness, E., Hug, B., Rowshanfarzad, P., . . . Ebert, M. A. (2023). Dosimetric Comparison of Proton Therapy and CyberKnife in Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Liver Cancers. DOI |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Novel techniques to improve proton beam therapy for base of skull tumours. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jia Wei Law |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Novel techniques to improve proton beam therapy for base of skull tumours. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jia Wei Law |
| 2020 | Principal Supervisor | Comparison of Novel Volumetric Imaging Systems for Adaptive Proton Therapy | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Mitchell Ryan Herrick |
| 2020 | Principal Supervisor | Comparison of Novel Volumetric Imaging Systems for Adaptive Proton Therapy | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Mitchell Ryan Herrick |
| 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Development of a Prototype EU-155 CT Scanner | Master of Philosophy | Master | Full Time | Mr Giuseppe Michael Caporaso |
| 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Development of a Prototype EU-155 CT Scanner | Master of Philosophy | Master | Full Time | Mr Giuseppe Michael Caporaso |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Assessment of Adaptive Radiotherapy Workflows for Head and Neck Cancer | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr George Antoniou |
| 2016 - 2020 | Co-Supervisor | The Clinical Effect of Changing from a Dose to Water to a Dose to Medium-Based Methodology to Calculate Monitor Units for Electron Beams | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Miss Hilary Frances Todd |
| 2016 - 2019 | Principal Supervisor | A radiobiological Markov model for aiding decision making in proton therapy referral | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Annabelle Mary Austin |
| 2015 - 2018 | Principal Supervisor | An Optical Computed Tomography Scanner for Three Dimensional Gel Dosimetry of Radiotherapy Dose Distributions | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Daniel Paul Norman Ramm |
| 2015 - 2019 | Principal Supervisor | A Method for Validating a Transperineal Ultrasound System for Intrafraction Monitoring of the Prostate during External Beam Radiotherapy | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Stephen James Gibson |
| 2014 - 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Investigation of Acuros XB Radiotherapy Dose Calculation Algorithm | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Andrew McGrath |
| 2013 - 2015 | Co-Supervisor | Monte Carlo Conversion for the Australian Primary Standard of Absorbed Dose to Water in High Energy Photon Beams | Master of Science (Medical Physics) | Master | Part Time | Ms Tracy Elizabeth Wright |
| 2013 - 2019 | Co-Supervisor | Development of an Independent Monte Carlo Dose Calculation Tool for Validation of the Monaco Electron Treatment Planning System | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Robert John Crane |
| 2012 - 2017 | Principal Supervisor | Dual Energy Image Reconstruction and Systems for Application in Proton Therapy Treatment Planning | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jiahua Zhu |
| 2011 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | Development of an Integrated Stochastic Radiobiological Model for Electromagnetic Particle Interactions in a 4D Cellular Geometry | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | APrf Michael John James Douglass |
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