Medical Physics

The Department works in tandem with radiation oncology and is responsible for Treatment Planning of all cancer patients treated in Radiation Oncology. It is solely responsible for radiation safety of Patients as well as Radiation Professionals. Apart from Academics, particularly teaching M.Sc Medical Physics course, jointly offered by Anna University, the Department is actively involved and recognized as a research department by the University.

Welcome to our department’s journey, which began in November 1957 under the leadership of Dr. K.S. Chandrasekar, Ph.D. Serving as the Head of the Department, Dr. Chandrasekar laid the foundation for our academic legacy.

In August 1958, Dr. A.V. Lakshmanan, Ph.D., who assumed the role of Head of the Department in April 1962. His dedication and leadership shaped the department’s growth until his retirement in August 2006. He retired as Director (Administration), and continued as an Adviser till 2022.

In April 1965, Dr. I.S. Balakrishnan, PhD, joined the institute and played a pivotal role until his retirement in April 2007, culminating in the position of Chairman, Physical Sciences. In July 1993, Dr. N. Vivekanandan, Ph.D., became a part of our academic family. Since May 2007, he has been serving as the Professor and Head of the Department, leading us with passion and expertise.

Our journey is marked by the dedication and contributions of these visionary leaders, shaping the department into a hub of academic excellence. Join us as we continue to strive for innovation, research, and educational advancement.

Our services include a spectrum of methodologies, including conventional, conformal, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), VMAT and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) planning. We are also equipped to provide High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy planning, ensuring a holistic approach to cancer care.

Notably, the Cancer Institute achieved a significant milestone by being the first center in the country to install and upgrade to RapidArc Technology on January 22, 2009. This technological advancement underscores our commitment to staying at the forefront of innovative cancer treatment.

Within our state-of-the-art facilities, we have five linear accelerators (linacs), one Telecobalt machine, one HDR unit, and one CT simulator. To support our planning processes, we have 8 ECLIPSE Treatment Planning systems and a MONACO Planning System, reflecting our dedication to providing the best possible care through advanced technology as quickly as possible.

In 1981, we proudly pioneered the M. Sc., (Medical Physics) course in South Asia in collaboration with Anna University, establishing a legacy of excellence. This postgraduate degree course is offered at the university and has seen over 500 graduates, who are now making significant contributions in India and internationally.

Under the guidance of Dr. N. Vivekanandan, we’ve successfully mentored 12 scholars who have obtained their PhD Degrees, contributing to the ever-evolving field of study. At present 5 students are registered for PhD Degree under his guidance with Anna University. Our current research endeavors showcase our commitment to pushing boundaries. Ongoing study involves the 3D printing technology, Deformed Dose Accumulation, Portal dosimetry, FIF planning, Patient specific QA and Enhanced Leaf modeling.