Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
My research focuses on the application of mathematical models to enhance our understanding of biological responses to radiation, spanning a range of scales from individual cells to whole organisms.
In my PhD I developed models of how heavy-element nanoparticles impacted energy deposition in radiation therapy, with a focus on the use of gold nanoparticle to improve treatment outcomes. Comparison with experimental data led to the development of new models of biological response to these advanced exposures to better explain the nanoscale impact of these agents.
Following this, I have worked in a number of posts in both QUB and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, applying these techniques in a range of systems, including models of intercellular signalling, normal tissue complication, and intrinsic radiosensitivity.
I am continuing this work in my current post as a Queen's University Research Fellow within the CCRCB, building a portfolio of computational tools to better understand radiation responses, in systems such as proton therapy, nanoparticle-enhanced therapy, and radionuclide therapy. This work is being carried out with a range of national and international collaborators, including at the University of Manchester, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Oncoray Dresden.
Achievements
2018 recipient of the Radiation Research Society Jack Fowler Award for ourstanding junior investigators in radiobiology.
Recipient of a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship from 2014-2017 in partnership with MGH.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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R1176CNR: Individualising Radiotherapy through Mechanistic Models
McMahon, S. (PI) & Overton, I. (CoI)
22/04/2020 → …
Project: Research
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An evaluation of rectum contours generated by artificial intelligence automatic contouring software using geometry, dosimetry and predicted toxicity
McLaughlin, O., Gholami, F., Osman, S., O’Sullivan, J. M., McMahon, S. J., Jain, S. & McGarry, C. K., 30 Sept 2025, In: Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express. 11, 10 p., 055020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
Assessing the relative contribution of DSB repair proteins as a function of LET
Liberal, F. D. C. G., Thompson, S. J., Gardner, L. L., Parsons, J. L., Chevalier, F., Tabury, K. & McMahon, S. J., Sept 2025, In: International Journal of Particle Therapy. 17, 10 p., 101198.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
Dose, dose rate and split dose impacts murine skin responses following photon FLASH irradiation
Brown, K. H., Ghita-Pettigrew, M., McIvor, M. P., McDowell, M. P., McLaughlin, O., Prise, K. M., Sforza, D., Wong, J. W., Rezaee, M., McMahon, S. J. & Butterworth, K. T., Nov 2025, In: Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. 212, 9 p., 111125.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Single-pulse Gy-scale irradiation of biological cells at 1013 Gy s−1 average dose-rates from a laser-wakefield accelerator
McAnespie, C. A., Chaudhary, P., Streeter, M. J. V., Botchway, S. W., Bourgeois, N., Calvin, L., Cavanagh, N., Fleck, K., Jaroszynski, D., Kettle, B., Lupu, A. M., Mangles, S. P. D., McMahon, S. J., Mill, J., Needham, S. R., Rajeev, P. P., Sarma, J., Prise, K. M. & Sarri, G., 03 Aug 2025, In: Physics in Medicine and Biology. 70, 15, 155001.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Benchmarking proton RBE models
Gardner, L. L., O'Connor, J. D. & McMahon, S. J., 21 Apr 2024, In: Physics in Medicine & Biology. 69, 8, 15 p., 085022.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Citations (Scopus)32 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Roberts Best Paper Prize
McMahon, S. (Recipient) & Thompson, S. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Vice-chancellor’s Research Prize: Early Career Researcher
McMahon, S. (Recipient), 13 Jan 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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The majority of DNA repair deficiencies do not alter the correlation between relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and linear energy transfer (LET) in CRISPR-edited cells
McMahon, S. (Advisor) & Liberal, F. (Speaker)
09 Dec 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Monte Carlo Modelling of Kilovoltage Radiotherapy
McMahon, S. (Examiner)
08 Oct 2024Activity: Examination types › PhD external examination
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Modelling radiobiology: What has it taught us, and what do we still have to learn?
McMahon, S. (Speaker)
16 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Quantifying genetic dependencies of radiation responses after carbon ion irradiation
McMahon, S. (Advisor) & Liberal, F. (Speaker)
15 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Modelling Intrinsic Radiosensitivity: How far does DNA repair get us?
McMahon, S. (Speaker)
25 Jun 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Press/Media
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Proton therapy for prostate cancer: does the evidence support the hype?
26/07/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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Tumour growth models shed light on radionuclide therapy
Prise, K., Liberal, F., O'Sullivan, J., McMahon, S. & Moreira, H.
06/03/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Tumour growth models shed light on radionuclide therapy
06/03/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Radiosensitivity model addresses personalized therapy
McMahon, S., McNamara, A. L., Schuemann, J., Paganetti, H. & Prise, K.
06/10/2017
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Radiosensitization: which element is optimal?
McMahon, S., Paganetti, H. & Prise, K.
10/02/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research