Clinical Radiobiology

Group leader: Dr. Rer. Nat. Walter Tinganelli, Ph.D.

Walter holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany and a Master of Science in Biotechnology from the University of Naples Federico II.

After completing his Ph.D., he served for two years as Director of the International Open Laboratory Group at Japan’s National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). He then spent three years as Principal Investigator at the Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), part of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) in Trento, Italy, where he participated in establishing the first laboratory and experimental room within the proton therapy center.

Since 2019, Walter has led the Clinical Radiobiology Group at the Helmholtz Research Center for Heavy Ion Research (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany.

He has served as a member of the Life Sciences Working Group of the European Space Agency (ESA) and as Chair of Biology (Europe) for the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG). He is also an active member of the FLASH Focus Group of the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO).

Group Members

Group Leader/Senior Scientist:

Walter Tinganelli, Ph.D.

Deputy Group Leader/Senior Scientist:

Olga Sokol, Ph.D.

Technical Assistant:

Mr. Julius Oppermann

Researcher:

Reema Chowdhury, Ph.D.

Emiliana Piscitiello, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Candidates

Ms. Tamara Vitacchio

Mr. Malte Benje

Master’s / Bachelor’s Students and Interns:

Mr. Collin Werkheiser

Main research

Publications (2024 - 2025)

2025

  1. Boscolo D, Lovatti G, Sokol O, Vitacchio T, Moglioni M, Evangelista F, Haettner E, Tinganelli W, Graeff C, Weber U, Schuy C, Nitta M, Kostyleva D, Purushothaman S, Thirolf PG, Bückner A, Bortfeldt J, Scheidenberger C, Parodi K, Durante M. Image-guided treatment of mouse tumours with radioactive ion beams. Nature Physics. 2025;21:1023–1030.
  2. Bertho A, Graeff C, Ortiz R, Giorgi M, Schuy C, Juchaux M, Gilbert C, Espenon J, Oppermann J, Sokol O, Tinganelli W, Prezado Y. Carbon minibeam radiation therapy results in tumor growth delay in an osteosarcoma murine model. Scientific Reports. 2025;15:7305.
  3. Benje M, Vitacchio T, Fritsche D, Tinganelli W. Gene expression profiling and phenotypic characterization of circulating tumor cells derived from a murine osteosarcoma model. Cancers. 2025;17:1210.
  4. Tinganelli W, Puspitasari-Kokko A, Sokol O, Helm A, Simoniello P, Schuy C, Lerchl S, Eckert D, Oppermann J, Rehm A, Janssen S, Engel D, Moeller R, Romano R, Horst F, Boscolo D, Fournier C, Durante M, Weber U. FLASH Bragg-peak irradiation with a therapeutic carbon ion beam: first in vivo results. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2025; 121:1282-1292.
  5. De Francesco S, Amitrano C, Vitale E, Costanzo G, Tinganelli W, et al. Radiation quality matters: morphological and biochemical responses of Brassica rapa microgreens to X-rays, C-ions, and Fe-ions. Planta. 2025; 261: Article 48. DOI: 10.1007/s00425-025-04835-6
  6. Koffler DM, Ebner DK… Tinganelli W. Eradicating cancer stem cells using high linear energy transfer radiation therapy. Part 1: Physics and Radiobiology. Appl Radiat Oncol. 2025; 14(2):1–8. DOI: 10.37549/ARO-D-25-00003P1
  7. Koffler DM, Ebner DK… Tinganelli W. Eradicating cancer stem cells using high linear energy transfer radiation therapy. Part 2: LET painting and other advanced techniques. Appl Radiat Oncol. 2025; 14(2):1–12. DOI: 10.37549/ARO-D-25-00003P2

 

2024

  1. Amitrano C, De Francesco S, Durante M, Tinganelli W, Arena C, De Micco V. Morphological and Photosynthetic Pigment Screening of Four Microgreens Species Exposed to Heavy Ions. Plants. 2024; 13(24), 3541.
  2. Kokko AP, Chowdhury R, Sherman K, Cerri M, Tinganelli W. Understanding the scientific validity of synthetic torpor for radiation research and extended space missions. Front Space Technol. 2024; 5,1471001. 
  3. Cockell CS, Green DA, Caplin N, Grenouilleau J, McDonald FE, Calvaruso M, Billi D, Cullen DC, Davey MP, De Micco V, Elsaesser A, Etheridge T, Gläßer C, Hellweg CE, Ilea CS, Lecocq A, Leys N, Martin-Torres J, Nazarious M, Pacelli C, Przybyla C, Rabbow E, Robson Brown K, Soria-Salinas A, Szewczyk N, Tinganelli W, Tranfield EM, de Vera J-P, Verseux C. BioMoon: a concept for a mission to advance space life sciences and astrobiology on the Moon. Discov Space. 2024;128(1):5.
  4. Ahmad R, Barcellini A, Baumann K, Benje M, Bender T, Bragado P, Charalampopoulou A, Chowdhury R, Davis AJ, Ebner DK, Eley J, Kloeber JA, Mutter RW, Friedrich T, Gutierrez-Uzquiza A, Helm A, Ibáñez-Moragues M, Iturri L, Jansen J, Morcillo MÁ, Puerta D, Kokko AP, Sánchez-Parcerisa D, Scifoni E, Shimokawa T, Sokol O, Story MD, Thariat J, Tinganelli W, Tommasino F, Vandevoorde C, von Neubeck C. Particle beam radiobiology status and challenges: a PTCOG radiobiology subcommittee report. Int J Particle Ther. 2024;13:100626.
  5. Boscolo D, Fuss M, Tinganelli W, Chaudary P. Experimental and modelling challenges in FLASH radiotherapy with Monte Carlo methods. Monte Carlo in Heavy Charged Particle Therapy New Challenges in Ion Therapy, Book. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. 2024; Chapter 15

* These authors share first authorship.

Publications (2013 to 2023)

2023

  1. Quartieri M, Puspitasari A, Vitacchio T, Durante M, Tinganelli W. The role of hypoxia and radiation in developing a CTCs-like phenotype in murine osteosarcoma cells. Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 2023; 11.
  2. Jansen Van Vuuren A, Bolcaen J, Engelbrecht M, Burger W, De Koch M, Durante M, Fisher R, Martinez-Lopez W, Miles X, Rahiman F, Tinganelli W, Vandevoorde C. Establishment of Primary Adult Skin Fibroblast Cell Lines from African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana). Animals. 2023; 13(14): 2353.
  3. Fogtman A, Baatout S, Baselet B, Berger T,Hellweg CE, Jiggens P, La Tessa C,Narici L,Nieminen P,Sabatier L,Santin G, Schneider U, Straube U, Tabury K, Tinganelli W, Walsh L, Durante M. Towards sustainable human space exploration-priorities for radiation research to quantify and mitigate radiation risks. Npj Microgravity. 2023; 9(1):8.

 

2022

  1. Puspitasari A, Squarcio F, Quartieri M, Totis C, Hitrec T, Takahashi A, Yoshida Y, Hanamura K, Yako T, Cerri M, Simoniello P, Durante M, Tinganelli W. Synthetic torpor protects rats from exposure to accelerated heavy ions. Scientific Reports. 2022; 12(1) 16405.
  2. Tinganelli W, Weber U, Anggraeini P, Simoniello P, Abdollahi A, Oppermann J, Schuy C, Horst F, Helm A, Fournier C, Durante M. FLASH with carbon ions: Tumor control, normal tissue sparing, and distal metastasis in a mouse osteosarcoma model. Radiotherapy and Oncology. 2022; 175:185-190.
  3. Tinganelli W, Sokol O, Quartieri M, Puspitasari A, Dokic I, Abdollahi A, Durante M, Haberer T, Debus J, Boscolo D, Voss B, Brons S, Schuy C, Horst F, Weber U. Ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) carbon ion irradiation: dosimetry and first cell experiments. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022; S=360-3016(21)03129-1.

 

2021

  1. Boscolo D, Kostyleva D, Safari MJ, Anagnostatou V, Äystö J, Bagchi S, Binder T, Dedes G, Dendooven P, Dickel T, Drozd V, Franczack B, Geissel H, Gianoli C, Graeff C, Grahn T, Greiner F, Haettner E, Haghani R, Harakeh MN, Horst F, Hornung C, Hucka JP, Kalantar-Nayestanaki N, Kazantseva E, Kindler B, Knöbel R, Kuzminchuk-Feuerstein N, Lommel B, Mukha I, Nociforo C, Ishikawa S, Lovatti G, Nitta M, Ozoemelam I, Pietri S, Plaß WR, Prochazka A, Purushothaman S, Reidel CA, Roesch H, Schirru F, Schuy C, Sokol O, Steinsberger T, Tanaka YK, Tanihata I, Thirolf P, Tinganelli W, Voss B, Weber U, Weick H, Winfield JS, Winkler M, Zhao J, Scheidenberger C, Parodi K, Durante M; Super-FRS Experiment Collaboration. Front Oncol. 2021; 11:737050
  2. Tinganelli W, Luoni F, Durante M. What can space radiation protection learn from radiation oncology? Life Sci Space Res. 2021; 30: 82-95.
  3. Bravatà V*, Tinganelli W*, Cammarata FP, Minafra L, Calvaruso M, Sokol O, Petringa G, Cirrone GAP, Scifoni E, Forte GI, Russo G. Hypoxia Transcriptomic Modifications Induced by Proton Irradiation in U87 Glioblastoma Multiforme Cell Line. Journal of Personal Medicine. 2021; 11(4):308.
  4. Helm A, Tinganelli W, Simoniello P, Kurosawa F, Fournier C, Shimokawa T, Durante M. Reduction of Lung Metastases in a Mouse Osteosarcoma Model Treated With Carbon Ions and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021; 109(2):594-602. 
  5. Puspitasari A, Cerri M, Takahashi A, Yoshida Y, Hanamura K, Tinganelli W. Hibernation as a Tool for Radiation Protection in Space Exploration. Life (Basel). 2021; 11(1):54.

 

2020

  1. Tinganelli W, Durante M. Carbon Ion Radiobiology. Cancers (Basel). 2020; 12(10):3022.
  2. Tinganelli W, Durante Marco. Tumor Hypoxia and Circulating Tumor Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(24):9592.
  3. Kartini DA, Sokol O, Wiedemann J, Tinganelli W, Witt M, Camazzola G, Krämer M, Talabnin C, Kobdaj C, Fuss MC. Validation of a pseudo-3D phantom for radiobiological treatment plan verifications. Phys Med Biol. 2020;65(22):225039.

 

2019

  1. Tinganelli W, Hitrec T, Romani F, Simoniello P, Squarcio F, Stanzani A, Piscitiello E, Marchesano V, Luppi M, Sioli M, Helm A, Compagnone G, Morganti AG, Amici R, Negrini M, Zoccoli A, Durante M, Cerri M. Hibernation and Radioprotection: Gene Expression in the Liver and Testicle of Rats Irradiated under Syntetic Torpor. 2019; J Mol Sci. 20 (2).

 

2018

  1. Helm A, Ebner DK, Tinganelli W, Simoniello P, Bisio A, Marchesano V, Durante M, Yamada S, ShimokawaT. Combining Heavy-Ion Therapy with Immunotherapy: An Update on Recent Developments. International Journal of Particle Therapy. 2018; 5: 84-93.
  2. Held KD, Story M, Grosshans D, Capala J, Blakely EA, Boerma M, Bortfeld T, Chang P, Combs SE, Durante M, Formenti S, Fornace AJ, Krishnan S, Limoli C, Paganetti H, Prise K, Stewart RD, Tinganelli W, Timmerman R, Vikram B, Willers H, Weil MM. Proceedings of the National Cancer Institute Workshop on Charged Particle Radiobiology. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018; 100:816-831.

 

2017

  1. Sokol O, Scifoni E, Tinganelli W, Kraft-Weyrather W, Wiedemann J, Maier A, Boscolo D, Friedrich T, Brons S, Durante M, Krämer M. Oxygen beams for therapy: advanced biological treatment planning and experimental verification. Phys Med Biol. 2017; 62(19): 7798-7813.
  2. Tinganelli W*, Ebner DK*, Helm A, Bisio A, Simoniello P, Natale F, Yamada S, Kamada T, Shimokawa T, Durante M, the Abscopal Research Collaboration (ARC). Generating and grading the Abscopal Effect: Proposal for comprehensive evaluation of combination immunoradiotherapy in mouse models. Translational Cancer Research. 2017; (6).
  3. Tinganelli W*, Ebner DK*, Helm A, Bisio A, Yamada S, Kamada T, Shimokawa T, Durante M. The Immunoregulatory Potential of Particle Radiation in Cancer Therapy. Front Immunol. 2017; 8: 99.
  4. Cerri M, Tinganelli W, Negrini M, Helm A, Scifoni E, Tommasino F, Sioli M, Zoccoli A, Durante M. Hibernation for space travel: Impact on radioprotection. Life Sci Space Res (Amst). 2016; 11 1-9.
  5. Scifoni E, Sokol O., Gruen R, Friedrich T, Scholz M, Tinganelli W, Brons S, Schuy C, Rovituso M, Durante M, Kraemer M. Helium and Oxygen beam models in TRiP98: implementation, treatment planning tests and experimental verification. Radiotherapy & Oncology. 2016; 118:S96.
  6. Krämer M, Scifoni E, Schuy C, Rovituso M, Tinganelli W, Maier A, Kaderka R, Kraft-Weyrather W, Brons S, Tessonnier T, Parodi K, Durante M. Helium ions for radiotherapy? Physical and biological verifications of a novel treatment modality. Med Phys. 2016; 43 (4):1995.
  7. Tinganelli W, Allen CP*, Sharma N, Jie J, Sicard C, Natale F, King M 3rd, Keysar SB, Jimeno A, Furusawa Y, Okayasu R, Fujimori A, Durante M, Nickoloff JA. DNA Damage Response Proteins and Oxygen Modulate Prostaglandin E2 Growth Factor Release in Response to Low and High LET Ionizing Radiation. Front Oncol. 2015; 5: 260.
  8. Tinganelli W, Durante M, Hirayama R, Kraemer M, Maier A, Kraft-Weyrather W, Furusawa Y, Friedrich T, Scifoni E. Kill-painting of Hypoxic tumorus in charged particle therapy. Sci Rep. 2015; 5: 17016

 

2016

  1. Tinganelli W, Durante M Helm A. Clinical evidence and radiobiological background of particle radiation therapy. In: Radiobiology of Glioblastoma. Cham: Springer; 2016. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-28305-0_5.
  2. Cerri M, Tinganelli W, Negrini M, Helm A, Scifoni E, Tommasino F, Sioli M, Zoccoli A, Durante M. Hibernation for space travel: Impact on radioprotection. Life Sci Space Res (Amst). 2016; 11 1-9.
  3. Scifoni E, Sokol O., Gruen R, Friedrich T, Scholz M, Tinganelli W, Brons S, Schuy C, Rovituso M, Durante M, Kraemer M. Helium and Oxygen beam models in TRiP98: implementation, treatment planning tests and experimental verification. Radiotherapy & Oncology. 2016; 118:S96.
  4. Krämer M, Scifoni E, Schuy C, Rovituso M, Tinganelli W, Maier A, Kaderka R, Kraft-Weyrather W, Brons S, Tessonnier T, Parodi K, Durante M. Helium ions for radiotherapy? Physical and biological verifications of a novel treatment modality. Med Phys. 2016; 43 (4):1995.

 

2015

  1. Tinganelli W, Allen CP, Sharma N, Jie J, Sicard C, Natale F, King M 3rd, Keysar SB, Jimeno A, Furusawa Y, Okayasu R, Fujimori A, Durante M, Nickoloff JA. DNA Damage Response Proteins and Oxygen Modulate Prostaglandin E2 Growth Factor Release in Response to Low and High LET Ionizing Radiation. Front Oncol. 2015; 5: 260.
  2. Tinganelli W, Durante M, Hirayama R, Kraemer M, Maier A, Kraft-Weyrather W, Furusawa Y, Friedrich T, Scifoni E. Kill-painting of Hypoxic tumorus in charged particle therapy. Sci Rep. 2015; 5: 17016.

2013

  1. Scifoni E, Tinganelli W, Weyrather WK, Maier A, Krämer M. Including oxygen enhancement ratio in ion beam treatment planning: Model implementation and experimental verification. Phys Med Biol. 2013; 58(11): 3871–3895.
  2. Ma N-Y, Tinganelli W, Maier A, Durante M, Kraft-Weyrather WK. Influence of chronic hypoxia and radiation quality on cell survival. J Radiat Res. 2013; 54(Suppl 1): i13–i22.
  3. Tinganelli W, Ma N-Y, Von Neubeck C, Kraft-Weyrather WK, Durante M. Influence of acute hypoxia and radiation quality on cell survival. J Radiat Res. 2013; 54(Suppl 1): i23–i30.

 

* These authors share first authorship.

Collaborations

QST, Chiba, Japan
HIT, Heidelberg, Germany
DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
iThemba, Cape Town, South Africa
University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy
University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy
University of Parma, Parma, Italy
University of Rome, Rome, Italy
TIFPA, Trento, Italy
INFN, Italy

Alumni

Leonie Hartig

Katelin Sherman

Amèlia Jansen van Vuuren

Fabio Squarcio

Justė Čepaitė

Anggraeini Puspitasari

Martina Quartieri

Cristina Totis

Beatrice Pretto 

Dennis Fritsche

Elizabeth van der Bijl

Nicola Loi 

Nivida Shete

Oskar Loening

Charnay Cunningham


Loading...