Damien Charles Weber
Damien Charles Weber is a Swiss radiation oncologist and medical physicist, known for his leadership in clinical proton therapy and contributions to research in radiation oncology. He serves as the Head and Chairman of the Center for Proton Therapy (CPT) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland. Weber is noted for his involvement in advancing proton therapy for cancer patients, particularly children and young adults.
Education and Early Career
Details about Weber's early life, education, and medical training have not been widely published. However, he received training in both radiation oncology and medical physics, which positioned him at the intersection of clinical medicine and particle-based cancer therapy. Prior to his appointment as CPT director, he held various clinical and research positions in oncology-focused institutions in Switzerland.
Career at the Paul Scherrer Institute
Damien Weber was appointed Head of the Center for Proton Therapy at the Paul Scherrer Institute in 2012. The CPT is one of Europe's leading proton therapy centers and was among the pioneers of using pencil beam scanning (PBS), an advanced form of intensity-modulated proton therapy.
Under Weber’s leadership, the center has expanded access to proton therapy for both adult and pediatric cancer patients. By 2023, the facility was treating over 170 patients annually, including 60–70 children and adolescents in collaboration with the University Children’s Hospital Zurich.[1]
CPT's capabilities have continued to grow with the development of a third treatment room and improved treatment protocols. The center has played a significant role in introducing PBS into clinical use and studying its long-term outcomes.
Research and Publications
Weber has published extensively in the areas of proton therapy, radiation oncology, and medical physics. His research includes clinical outcome studies, treatment planning optimization, and pediatric cancer survivorship. According to ResearchGate, Weber has co-authored over 500 scientific publications and has been cited more than 14,000 times.[2]
A notable area of his focus has been the use of PBS in treating pediatric brain tumors such as intracranial ependymoma. Research led by Weber and colleagues has demonstrated high rates of tumor control with low levels of long-term toxicity, supporting the use of proton therapy over conventional photon therapy in certain pediatric indications.
Authorship Controversy
In 2024, Weber was subject to internal scrutiny at the Paul Scherrer Institute regarding authorship policies in research publications. An internal review, prompted by concerns from staff and researchers, found that Weber had been routinely listed as a co-author on publications from CPT teams regardless of his direct involvement in the studies. As a result of the findings, PSI clarified authorship guidelines in accordance with international standards of scientific integrity, and Weber ceased being listed on publications where he did not make a substantive contribution.[3]
Public Engagement and Advocacy
Weber has contributed to the public understanding of proton therapy through educational outreach, interviews, and publications. He was a contributor to the book Physics Against Cancer, which chronicles the development of particle therapy at PSI. In media appearances and public lectures, Weber has advocated for the broader use of proton therapy, citing its precision and ability to reduce long-term side effects—especially critical in treating pediatric patients whose developing tissues are more sensitive to radiation.[1]
He continues to play a role in international collaborations aimed at improving access to and affordability of proton therapy across Europe and globally.
Selected Publications
- Weber, D.C., et al. "Proton therapy for pediatric intracranial ependymoma: clinical outcome and quality of life." Radiotherapy and Oncology (Year).
- Weber, D.C., et al. "Treatment planning and robustness analysis in pencil beam scanning proton therapy." Medical Physics (Year).
- Weber, D.C., et al. "Advances in proton therapy at the Paul Scherrer Institute: From research to clinical practice." Frontiers in Oncology (Year).
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Even more cancer patients could benefit from proton therapy". Paul Scherrer Institute. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ↑ "Damien Charles Weber – ResearchGate Profile". ResearchGate. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ↑ "Streit um Autorenschaft am PSI". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
External links
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