VANCOUVER, CANADA – Shakardokht Jafari, an inventor and pioneering female medical physicist from Afghanistan, clinched the prestigious “Dynamics” award for 2024 in Britain.
Ms. Jafari joyfully announced her achievement today, May 1, via Facebook.
She extended her appreciation to the Surrey Technology Center in Britain for nominating her managed team, named “TrueInvivo,” for the award.
As reported by the “Platinum” website, alongside Ms. Jafari, four other individuals had also advanced to the final stage of contention for this accolade.
Shakardokht Jafari hails originally from Daikundi province in Afghanistan, a remote and impoverished province in the central highlands mostly populated by Hazaras, a historically persecuted community.
Two days ago, ISPK gunmen killed six Hazara worshippers in the western city of Herat in what has been a decades long saga of ethnic and religiously-motivated target killing that experts say amount to genocide.
Ms. Jafari migrated to Iran with her family at the age of six, where she pursued her education until completing her undergraduate studies.
Returning to Afghanistan from Iran in 2004, she commenced her teaching career at Kabul University. Additionally, she served as a representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission of Afghanistan. From 2005 to 2010, she held the position of “Radiology Department Supervisor” at the French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC).
In October 2010, she ventured to Britain on an International Atomic Energy Agency scholarship to pursue master’s studies in medical physics at Surrey University.
Post her master’s degree, Ms. Jafari continued her academic pursuit at the doctoral level at Surrey University, culminating in her graduation in 2015. She subsequently earned the distinction of being the first female medical physicist from Afghanistan, owing to her authorship of over 40 scientific articles and the creation of two pivotal inventions.
Ms. Jafari’s maiden invention, the ‘Dosimeter Device’ for recording radiation in cancer radiotherapy, received registration in Britain in 2019.
Crafted during her own battle with breast cancer, the lack of approval from the British Medical Regulations Committee hindered its clinical application, despite Ms. Jafari’s pregnancy with her third child.
Following her initial breakthrough, Ms. Jafari’s second invention, “Three-Dimensional Radiation Dose Measurement,” was patented in 2021. This innovation comprises a three-dimensional dosimetry system implanted within cancer patients, accurately registering radiation doses during radiotherapy sessions, thereby assisting doctors in treatment planning.
In 2016, during her doctoral studies at the University of Surrey, Ms. Jafari also secured the “Women in Innovation Award” in Britain. Establishing ‘TrueInvivo,’ she aimed to commercialize her research outcomes in cancer radiotherapy enhancement, ensuring global clinic accessibility. This initiative was championed by Innovate UK’s Infocus awards, advocating for women as role models and inspirations. Each winner received £50,000 from Innovate UK.
Utilizing the awarded funds, Ms. Jafari recruited a full-time engineer, leading to a year-long effort culminating in the development of the ‘dosimeter’ prototype for cancer therapy radiation registration. Subsequently securing an investor, they entrusted the prototype to Morgan Innovation & Technology for mass production and market introduction.
