Odunola Grace Babawale (MS Class of 2021) was awarded a grant from the Duke Innovation Co-Lab to design 3D-printed brachytherapy teaching tools for radiation oncology residents. Ms. Babawale will incorporate a 3D, modular brachytherapy kit into an existing pelvic phantom, thus producing a brachytherapy phantom that can be customized to different patient anatomical sizes. “Radiation oncology residents usually perform their first gynecologic brachytherapy HDR procedures directly on patients in the clinic. This can be a source of anxiety since the treatment outcome depends on the appropriate insertion of the applicators,” said Babawale. “This 3D printed GYN phantom will give the residents an opportunity to hone their insertion skills and potentially boost their confidence in performing these procedures prior to treating patients clinically.”
This project has also received other awards, including another Co-Lab Innovation Grant for Sabrina Campelo (MS Class of 2020). Program faculty Oana Craciunescu (Department of Radiation Oncology) served as the research advisor for both students.