Abstract: Radiation treatment for cancer is ripe for AI, given the large amount of imaging and machine data that is collected for every patient. AI can be very useful for improving the efficiency and quality of previously human-driven processes. In external forms of radiation, delivered with linear accelerators, machine learning models are being used clinically to automatically customize radiation treatments for each patient. However, the use of AI in brachytherapy, a radiation treatment that is delivered internally using an implanted radioactive source, is lagging. Cervical cancer patients wait hours under sedation or discomfort for their brachytherapy treatment to be designed manually by clinicians. In this talk, we will discuss some novel applications of models for cervical brachytherapy, which can help to guide or automate this treatment design process.
Bio:
Dr. Sandra Meyers is the Regional Leader of Clinical Medical Physics at BC Cancer Vancouver, starting in this role in September 2025. Originally from Vancouver, she completed her PhD in medical physics at the University of British Columbia, with a focus on MRI. She then transitioned to the field of radiation therapy and completed a medical physics residency at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Prior to BC Cancer, she was an Associate Professor and Vice-Chair of Physics & Technology Research at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Meyers’ research is internationally recognized, particularly in the development of AI-driven treatment planning and decision-making tools for gynecologic brachytherapy. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Varian Medical Systems and other agencies. She is a leader in the scientific community and national professional organizations, serving as an editor for the journal Practical Radiation Oncology, grant reviewer for the NIH, and chair of several American Association of Physicists in Medicine committees.
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2026-04-13T15:00:002026-04-13T16:00:00AI for good: How machine learning can improve cervical cancer treatmentEvent Information:
Abstract:Radiation treatment for cancer is ripe for AI, given the large amount of imaging and machine data that is collected for every patient. AI can be very useful for improving the efficiency and quality of previously human-driven processes. In external forms of radiation, delivered with linear accelerators, machine learning models are being used clinically to automatically customize radiation treatments for each patient. However, the use of AI in brachytherapy, a radiation treatment that is delivered internally using an implanted radioactive source, is lagging. Cervical cancer patients wait hours under sedation or discomfort for their brachytherapy treatment to be designed manually by clinicians. In this talk, we will discuss some novel applications of models for cervical brachytherapy, which can help to guide or automate this treatment design process.
Bio:
Dr. Sandra Meyers is the Regional Leader of Clinical Medical Physics at BC Cancer Vancouver, starting in this role in September 2025. Originally from Vancouver, she completed her PhD in medical physics at the University of British Columbia, with a focus on MRI. She then transitioned to the field of radiation therapy and completed a medical physics residency at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Prior to BC Cancer, she was an Associate Professor and Vice-Chair of Physics & Technology Research at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Meyers’ research is internationally recognized, particularly in the development of AI-driven treatment planning and decision-making tools for gynecologic brachytherapy. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Varian Medical Systems and other agencies. She is a leader in the scientific community and national professional organizations, serving as an editor for the journal Practical Radiation Oncology, grant reviewer for the NIH, and chair of several American Association of Physicists in Medicine committees.
Resources:
Pubmed article, "A Review of Artificial Intelligence in Brachytherapy"
Science Direct article, "Artificial intelligence in brachytherapy"
From Oxford Academic: read Sandra's article, "Pregnancy, cancer, and radiation—a modern refresher" Event Location:
HENN 318
