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Mark Oldham

Professor of Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Box 3295 Med Ctr, Durham, NC
04214 Duke South Clinics, Duke South Clinics, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr Oldham is the Director of the Duke Medical Physics MS/PhD Graduate Program, and Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, with a secondary appointment in the Physics Department at Duke. 

Main current research interests include: FLASH radiation therapy, exploring FLASH mechanisms utilizing the Duke High Intensity Gamma Source (HIGS), a nuclear research accelerator on the Duke campus.  Recent work selected for best in Physics at the annual AAPM meeting.  Radiation and Immunotherapy utilizing mini-grids. Radiation Therapy Enhanced by Cherenkov photo-Activation (RECA) and Comprehensive 3D dosimetry.

Dr Oldham has patented and published on several novel radiation treatment techniques (including XPACT and RECA - Radiotherapy Enhanced by Cherenkov photo-Activation) with exiting potential to invoke systemic anti-cancer immunogenic response.  A phase I clinical trial of XPACT is underway.  The lab has pioneered novel pre-clinical treatment capabilities including mini-beam grids, and ultra-high-resolution IMRT.  The lab has also developed novel optical imaging techniques for high-resolution 3D imaging of vascular networks and fluorescent gene expression in un-sectioned tissue samples.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Radiation Oncology · 2021 - Present Radiation Oncology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Physics · 2024 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2016 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

Recent Publications


Benchmarking of a new integrated 3D dosimetry system against Monte Carlo calculations and an established optical CT scanner.

Journal Article Medical physics · May 2025 BackgroundAdvanced radiation therapy techniques, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), adaptive therapy, and proton therapy, offer high precision in delivering radiation doses to tumors while mini ... Full text Cite

Clinical applicability of Linac-integrated CBCT based NIPAM 3D dosimetry: a dual-institutional investigation.

Journal Article Phys Med Biol · July 16, 2024 Objective.To develop and benchmark a novel 3D dose verification technique consisting of polymer gel dosimetry (PGD) with cone-beam-CT (CBCT) readout through a two-institution study. The technique has potential for wide and robust applicability through reli ... Full text Link to item Cite

Validation of complex radiotherapy techniques using polymer gel dosimetry.

Journal Article Phys Med Biol · March 20, 2024 Modern radiotherapy delivers highly conformal dose distributions to irregularly shaped target volumes while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. Due to the complex planning and delivery techniques, dose verification and validation of the whole treatment ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Radioprotective effect of p53 against oral mucositis

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research · 2023 - 2028

Exploring synthetic lethality with a novel very high energy electron FLASH radiation beam

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026

Super-FLASH radiation therapy for pediatric brain tumors

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Ian's Friends Foundation · 2024 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Newcastle University (United Kingdom) · 1991 Ph.D.