Chiara de Lucia Memorial Fund

To commemorate Chiara’s life as a friend, colleague and scientist, the Chiara De Lucia Memorial Fund has been established by the University of Surrey together with Chiara’s family to allow other researchers to continue her important work in FLASH Proton Therapy cancer studies.

About Chiara De Lucia

Chiara De Lucia

After earning her Master's Degree in Nuclear Physics at the University of Bologna, Chiara started her PhD studentship at the University of Surrey in October 2019 working in the cancer treatment field of scientific research. Specifically, she was developing methodologies in FLASH proton therapy, an exciting new approach for the treatment of cancer.

FLASH (radiation delivered at ultra-high speed) has been found to have differential effects on tumours and healthy tissues which could provide additional benefits for radiotherapy. FLASH proton therapy aims to combine the advances of proton therapy with the benefits of FLASH irradiations.

Chiara had a unique set of skills which allowed her to combine physics, chemistry and biological expertise to develop unique approaches to quantify the FLASH effect, such as the organ-on-a-chip technology. Chiara combined her scientific enthusiasm with her passion for drawing, producing inspiring representations of her work for the scientific and lay audience. Chiara’s dedication, hardworking and reserved etiquette were very much appreciated and praised by the whole Physics department at Surrey University and was an inspiration to the young scientists that she helped train. Professor Giueseppe Schettino, Professor of Medical Physics, University of Surrey

In memoria di Chiara De Lucia

Chiara dopo la laurea magistrale in Fisica Nucleare conseguita all’Università di Bologna, viene ammessa, nell’ottobre 2019, ad un Dottorato di Ricerca presso l’Università del Surrey (Uk) ed intraprende una importante ricerca scientifica per la cura dei tumori: “Flash Proton Therapy”.

Detta terapia ha la doppia ambizione di trovare una cura efficace contro il cancro e nello stesso tempo risultare meno invasiva per il paziente, unendo i progressi della terapia protonica con i benefici di radiazioni rilasciate ad altissima velocità (Flash).

Era una ricerca che la appassionava e in cui credeva molto. Da scienziata, con dedizione e impegno, Chiara era riuscita a portarla avanti nonostante il Covid e presto avrebbe consegnato la tesi finale. 

Il 29 aprile l’Università del Surrey le ha assegnato il Titolo PhD, purtroppo postumo, perché Chiara è morta l’11 gennaio del 2022 a causa di una improvvisa fibrillazione ventricolare, evento che ha messo fine alla sua vita e interrotto la sua importante ricerca.

Per onorare la sua memoria stiamo raccogliendo fondi affinché l’Università possa dare la possibilità ad altri giovani brillanti ricercatrici e ricercatori di proseguire la ricerca avviata da Chiara, tramite l’istituzione di una borsa di studio.

Anche una piccola cifra donata insieme ad altri, può far raggiungere un grande obiettivo alla ricerca e migliorare la vita di tante persone malate di tumore.

Se vuoi unirti a noi per proseguire la ricerca di Chiara, dona ora.

Grazie per il Tuo contributo che consentirà ad altre ricercatrici e/o ricercatori di terminare lo studio per la cura dei tumori tramite la “Flash Proton Therapy”!

I genitori di Chiara, Giuseppe e Daniela e il fratello Andrea

About the fund

Chiara had a noble ambition: not only to find an effective treatment but at the same time a less invasive one for the patient. This research fascinated Chiara and it was something in which she strongly believed. As a scientist, with constant dedication and resolute commitment, Chiara carried on her work despite Covid-19 and soon she would have completed her final dissertation.

On April 29 the University of Surrey awarded her the PhD Title, unfortunately posthumously, as Chiara died on January 11, 2022 due to a sudden heart attack, an event that ended her life and interrupted her important research.

To honour her memory, we are raising funds so that the University can give other brilliant young researchers the opportunity to continue the work which Chiara had started. We hope to raise enough to sponsor a MSc or PhD studentship in Medical Physics at the University of Surrey.

How you can help

Please donate to continue Chiara's research. Any size donation, together with others, will help reach great results in this research and can improve the life of many people who are fighting cancer.

Thank you so much for your contribution which will allow other researchers to complete the Flash Proton Therapy cancer study.

With thanks, from Chiara's parents, Giuseppe and Daniela, and her brother Andrea.