My name is Niloufar Matoor, and I hold a master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Pavia. I completed my Master’s thesis at the National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO) in Pavia, where I developed a strong and lasting interest in radiobiology, cancer biology, and radiation response. I am currently a PhD candidate in Hadrontherapy at the Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia and carry out my doctoral research at CNAO. I work in a highly interdisciplinary and translational research environment, combining molecular genetics with experimental radiobiology to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying radiation response and therapy resistance.

My research focuses on radiobiological mechanisms underlying hypoxia-driven resistance in cancer treated with particle therapy. I study how hypoxic tumor microenvironments affect DNA damage induction, DNA repair pathways, and cellular fate following photon and hadron irradiation. My work includes the use of advanced in vitro models, including three-dimensional cell culture systems, to better reproduce tumor complexity and oxygen gradients. The aim of my research is to contribute to the biological optimization of hadrontherapy and support more personalized cancer treatment strategies.