Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment:
Radiation Oncology
Additional Title:
Assistant Professor
Location:
Maryland Proton Treatment Center, 850 West Baltimore Street, 370, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone (Primary):
410-369-5254
Education and Training
NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal, BS, Biomedical Engineering, 2005
NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal, MS, Biomedical Engineering, 2007
NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, 2013
Duke University, NC, Research Scholar, Thermal Medical Physics, 2013
Thomas Jefferson University, PA, Postdoctoral Fellow, Thermal Oncology Physics, 2018
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, PA, Hyperthermia Medical Physics Resident, 2018
Biosketch
Dr. Dario Rodrigues is one of the few thermal oncology physicists in the USA. His specialty is to treat cancer using focused heat generated by radio waves, a thermal therapy technique also known as hyperthermia, which is a potent enhancer of chemo- and radiotherapy. As a physicist, Dr. Rodrigues performs adjuvant hyperthermia treatments of pelvic, abdominal, and superficial tumors. He is also responsible for the treatment planning, thermal dosimetry, and quality assurance of the clinical hyperthermia equipment. In support of his clinical activities, his research involves the development of improved radiofrequency amd microwave applicators for applying heat to tissue, noninvasive sensors to track temperature changes at depth, and new treatment planning strategies to improve thermal dose delivery. This research is accomplished with a combination of theoretical modeling, engineering development, and equipment performance evaluation with phantom, animal, and human patient subjects. One of Dr. Rodrigues most prominent research outcome was a noninvasive sensor that is able to safely monitor brain temperature during prolonged surgeries. This sensor was designed using microwave radiometry principles, a technique that is also used to measure the radiation from distant stars. A more recent topic of Dr. Rodrigues’ research is the development of a hyperthermia applicator to treat brain tumors, a target difficult to achieve due to the presence of the skull which reflects radio waves. To overcome the challenging structure of the human head, Dr. Rodrigues designed a 72-antenna phased array applicator that is able to target deep-seated brain tumors as demonstrated in a preclinical setting using advanced multiphysics numerical simulations. Dr. Rodrigues is also the Director of the Hyperthermia Therapy Practice School.
A keyword that Dr. Rodrigues uses throughout his clinical and research activities is temperature. Accumulating evidence indicates that physiologic responses to heat affect the tumor microenvironment through temperature-sensitive checkpoints that regulate vascular perfusion, tumor metabolism, lymphocyte trafficking, inflammatory cytokine expression as well as innate and adaptive immune function. Understanding the influence of temperature in blood perfusion and in the immune system are paramount avenues of research that Dr. Rodrigues is actively pursuing. On one hand, the ability to understand the changes of blood perfusion under thermal stress is key to developing accurate treatment planning and improved treatment delivery. On the other hand, the ability to fine-tune temperature to elicit a specific immune response would represent a significant advance in cancer treatment by enabling new and more effective multimodality therapies that Dr. Rodrigues wishes to bring to the clinic.
Dr. Dario Rodrigues is an Assistant Professor of Thermal Oncology Physics at the University of Maryland, Councilor of Engineering/Physics of the Society for Thermal Medicine, and Chair of the Thermal Medicine Standards Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Radiofrequency/microwave hyperthermia, hyperthermia treatment planning, microwave radiometry, multiphysics mathematical modeling, thermoregulation of blood perfusion, magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia, MR-guided thermal therapies
Highlighted Publications
Rodrigues DB, Dobsicek-Trefna H, Curto S, Winter L, Molitoris JK, Vrba J, Vrba D, Sumser K, Paulides MM: Radiofrequency and microwave hyperthermia in cancer treatment. (Chapter 11) in Prakash, P., Srimathveeravalli, G., (Eds.) Principles and technologies for electromagnetic energy based therapies, Elsevier, 2022, pp:281-311. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-820594-5.00007-1.
Rodrigues DB, Ellsworth J, Turner P. Feasibility of heating brain tumors using a 915 MHz annular phased array. IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. 20(4):423-427, 2021. DOI: 10.1109/LAWP.2021.3050142.
Paulides MM, Rodrigues DB, Bellizzi G, Sumser K, Curto S, Neufeld E, Montanaro H, Dobsicek-Trefna H. ESHO benchmarks for computational modeling and optimization in hyperthermia therapy. International Journal of Hyperthermia. 38(1):1425-1442, Sep 2021. PMID: 34581246.
Stauffer PR, Rodrigues DB, Goldstein R, Nguyen T, Woodward R, Gibbs M, Bar-Ad V, Leeper D, Shi W, Judy KD, Hurwitz MD. Feasibility of removable balloon implant for simultaneous magnetic nanoparticle heating and HDR brachytherapy of tumor resection cavities in brain. International Journal of Hyperthermia. 37(1):1189-1201, 2020. DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2020.1829103.
Bakker A, Holman R, Rodrigues DB, Dobšíček-Trefná H, Stauffer PR, van Tienhoven G, Rasch C, Crezee H. “Analysis of clinical data to determine the minimum number of sensors required for adequate monitoring of minimum and maximum temperatures during superficial hyperthermia”. Int J Hyperthermia. 2018; In press. PMID: 29658357.
Paulides MM, Dobsicek-Trefna H, Curto S, Rodrigues DB: Recent technological advancements in radiofrequency- and microwave-mediated hyperthermia for enhancing drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 163-164:3-18, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.03.004.
Rodrigues DB, Maccarini PF, Salahi S, Oliveira TR, Pereira PJ, Limao-Vieira P, Snow BW, Reudink D, Stauffer PR. Design and optimization of an ultra wideband and compact microwave antenna for radiometric monitoring of brain temperature. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2014; 61(7):2154-60. PMID: 24759979.
Additional Publication Citations
Wilhelmy B, Serra R, Chen C, Mishra M, Rodrigues D, Badjatia N, Motta M, Ksendzovsky A, Woodworth GF. An analysis of functional outcomes following laser interstitial thermal therapy for recurrent high-grade glioma. Neurosurg Focus. 2024 Nov 1;57(5):E4. doi: 10.3171/2024.8. FOCUS24460; PMID: 39486067.
Wan S, Rodrigues DB, Kwiatkowski J, Khanna O, Judy KD, Goldstein RC, Overbeek Bloem M, Yu Y, Rooks SE, Shi W, Hurwitz MD, Stauffer PR. Evaluation of a Balloon Implant for Simultaneous Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia and High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy of Brain Tumor Resection Cavities. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Dec 1;15(23):5683. doi: 10.3390/cancers15235683. PMID: 38067387; PMCID: PMC10705301.
Biswal NC, Rodrigues DB, Yao W, Chen S. Investigation of intra-fraction couch shifts for proton treatment delivery of head and neck cancer patients: Towards optimal imaging frequency. Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, 23(12):e13795, Dec 2022. PMID: 36239306.
Camilleri JS, Farrugia L, Curto S, Rodrigues DB, Farina L, Dingli GC, Bonello J, Farhat I, Sammut CV. Review of thermal and physiological properties of human breast tissue. Sensors, 22(10):3894, May 2022. PMID: 35632302.
Vrba D, Malena L, Albrecht J, Fricova J, Anders M, Rokyta R, Rodrigues DB, Vrba J: Numerical analysis of transcranial magnetic stimulation application in patients with orofacial pain. Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering. 30:590-599, Mar 2022. PMID: 35239486.
Osintsev AM, Vasilchenko IL, Rodrigues DB, Stauffer PR, Braginsky VI, Rynk VV, Gromov ES, Prosekov AY, Kaprin AD, Kostin AA. Characterization of ferromagnetic composite implants for tumor bed hyperthermia. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics. 57(9):1-8, 2021. PMID: 34538882.
Singh P, Eley, J, Saeed, A, Bhandary, B, Mahmood, N, Chen, M, Dukic, T, Mossahebi, S, Rodrigues DB, Mahmood, J, Shukla, H, Vujaskovic, Z. Effect of hyperthermia and proton beam radiation as a novel approach in chordoma cells death and its clinical implication to treat chordoma. International Journal of Radiation Biology. 97(12):1675-1686, 2021. PMID: 34495790.
Pokorny T, Vrba D, Tesarik J, Rodrigues DB, Vrba J. Anatomically and Dielectrically Realistic 2.5D 5-layer Reconfigurable Head Phantom for Testing Microwave Stroke Detection and Classification. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation. 2019(5459391):1-7, 2019. DOI: 10.1155/2019/5459391.
Stauffer PR, Rodrigues DB, Goldstein R, Doyle L, Bar-Ad V, Shi W, Judy KD, Hurwitz MD: Dual modality implant for simultaneous magnetic nanoparticle heating and brachytherapy treatment of tumor resection cavities in brain. IEEE Proceedings of IMS. 8439348: 1285-1287, 2018. DOI: 10.1109/MWSYM.2018.8439348.
Stauffer PR, Rodrigues DB, Chou CK. Thermal therapy applications of electromagnetic energy. (Volume 2, Chapter 9) in Barnes FS, Greenebaum B (Eds.) Handbook of biological effects of electromagnetic fields (4th edition), CRC Press. Forthcoming November 8, 2018. ISBN 9781138735262.
Rodrigues DB, Stauffer PR, Eisenbrey J, Beckhoff V, Hurwitz MD: Oncologic Applications of Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound. (Chapter 4), in Wong, J.Y.C., Schultheiss, T.E., Radany, E.H. (Eds.) Advances in Radiation Oncology, Springer International Publishing, 2017, pp 69-108. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53235-6_4.
Rodrigues DB, Stauffer PR, Pereira PJS, Maccarini PF. Microwave radiometry for non-invasive monitoring of brain temperature (Chapter 7) in Crocco L, Karanasiou I, Cruz-Conceição R, James M (Eds.) Emerging electromagnetic technologies for brain diseases diagnostics, monitoring and therapy, Springer International Publishing, 2018, pp 87-128. 10.1007/978-3-319-75007-1_5.
Conceição RC, Rodrigues DB, Oliveira, BL, Koutsoupidou M, Ruvio G. Overview of Microwave Medical Applications in Europe since the Beginning of the COST Action TD1301 – MiMed. Proc IEEE EuCAP; 7928067:2714-2718. DOI: 10.23919/EuCAP.2017.7928067.
Stauffer PR, Rodrigues DB, Sinahon R, Sbarro L, Beckhoff V, Hurwitz MD. using a conformal water bolus to adjust heating patterns of microwave waveguide applicators. Proc SPIE. 2017; 100660:N1-15. DOI: 10.1117/12.2252208.
Vrba D, Vrba J, Rodrigues DB, Stauffer PR. Numerical Investigation of Novel Microwave Applicators Based on Zero-Order Mode Resonance for Hyperthermia Treatment of Cancer. Journal of the Franklin Institute. 2017; 354:8734-8746. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfranklin.2016.10.044.
Stauffer PR, Vasilchenko II, Osintsev AM, Rodrigues DB, Bar-Ad V, Hurwitz M, Kolomiets SA. Tumor bed brachytherapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer: a feasibility assessment of combination with ferromagnetic hyperthermia. Biomed Phys Eng Express. 2016; 2(5):055002. DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/2/5/055002.
Vrba D, Rodrigues DB, Vrba J, Stauffer PR. Metamaterial Antenna Arrays for Improved Uniformity of Microwave Hyperthermia Treatments. Prog Electromagn Res. 2016;156:1-12. DOI: 10.2528/PIER16012702.
Rodrigues DB, Stauffer PR, Colebeck E, Hood AZ, Salahi S, Maccarini PF, TopSakal E. Dielectric properties measurements of brown and white adipose tissue in rats from 0.5 to 10 GHz. Biomed Phys Eng Express. 2016; 2(2):025005. PMID: 29354288.
Maccarini PF, Shah A, Palani SY, Pearce DV, Vardhan M, Stauffer PR, Rodrigues DB, Salahi S, Oliveira TR, Reudink D, Snow BW. A novel compact microwave radiometric sensor to noninvasively track deep tissue thermal profiles. Proc IEEE EuMC. 2015; 7345857:690-693. DOI: 10.1109/EuMC.2015.7345857.
Chernets N, Kurpad DS, Aleexev V, Rodrigues DB, Freeman TA. Reaction chemistry generated by nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge treatment is responsible for the tumor eradication in the B16 melanoma mouse model. Plasma Processes Polym. 2015;12(12):1400-1409. PMID: 29104522
Rodrigues DB, Hurwitz MD, Maccarini PF, Stauffer PR. Optimization of chest wall hyperthermia treatment using a virtual human chest model. Proc EuCAP IEEE. 2015; 7228886:1-5. INSPEC: 15416614.
Rodrigues DB, Stauffer PR, Vrba DH, M. D. Focused ultrasound for treatment of bone tumors. Int J Hyperthermia. 2015;31(3):260-71. PMID: 25825987.
Rodrigues DB, Maccarini PF, Salahi S, Oliveira TR, Pereira PJ, Limao-Vieira P, Snow BW, Reudink D, Stauffer PR. Design and optimization of an ultra wideband and compact microwave antenna for radiometric monitoring of brain temperature. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2014;61(7):2154-60. PMID: 24759979.
Stauffer PR, Snow BW, Rodrigues DB, Salahi S, Oliveira TR, Reudink D, Maccarini PF. Non-invasive measurement of brain temperature with microwave radiometry: demonstration in a head phantom and clinical case. Neuroradiology J. 2014;27(1):3-12. PMID: 24571829.
Inman BA, Etienne W, Rubin R, Owusu RA, Oliveira TR, Rodriques DB, Maccarini PF, Stauffer PR, Mashal A, Dewhirst MW. The impact of temperature and urinary constituents on urine viscosity and its relevance to bladder hyperthermia treatment. Int J Hyperthermia. 2013;29(3):206-10. PMID: 23489163.
Stauffer PR, Rodriques DB, Salahi S, Topsakal E, Oliveira TR, Prakash A, D’Isidoro F, Reudink D, Snow BW, Maccarini PF. Stable microwave radiometry system for long term monitoring of deep tissue temperature. Proc SPIE. 2013;8584:R1-12. PMID: 24244830.
Rodrigues, D.B., Pereira, P.J., Limão-Vieira, P., Stauffer, P.R., Maccarini, P.F.: Study of the one dimensional and transient bioheat transfer equation: multi-layer solution development and applications. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 62:153-62, 2013. PMID: 24511152.
Rodrigues DB, Maccarini PF, Salahi S, Colebeck E, Topsakal E, Pereira PJ, Limao-Vieira P, Stauffer PR. Numerical 3D modeling of heat transfer in human tissues for microwave radiometry monitoring of brown fat metabolism. Proc SPIE. 2013;8584:S1-12. PMID: 24244831.
Salahi S, Maccarini PF, Rodrigues DB, Etienne W, Landon CD, Inman BA, Dewhirst MW, Stauffer PR. Miniature microwave applicator for murine bladder hyperthermia studies. Int J Hyperthermia. 2012;28(5):456-65. PMID: 22690856.
Rodrigues DB, Pereira PJS, Limão-Vieira PM, Maccarini PF. Analytical solution to the transient 1D bioheat equation in a multilayer region with spatial dependent heat sources. Biomedical Engineering. 2011;8:96-103. DOI: 10.2316/p.2011.723-092.
Professional Activity
Councilor of Engineering/Physics, Society for Thermal Medicine
Technical Committee, European Society of Hyperthermic Oncology
Chair of the Thermal Medicine Standards Committee, American Society of Mechanical Engineers