Optics Design and Beam Dynamics simulation for a VHEE Radiobiology beam line at PRAE accelerator
Journal of Physics Conference Series IOP Publishing 1350:1 (2019) 012200
Developing innovative, robust and affordable medical linear accelerators for challenging environments
Clinical Oncology Elsevier 31:6 (2019) 352-355
Abstract:
The annual global incidence of cancer is projected to rise in 2035 to 25 million cases (13 million deaths), with 70% occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where there is a severe shortfall in the availability of radiotherapy [1] – an essential component of overall curative and palliative cancer care. A 2015 report by the Global Task Force on Radiotherapy for Cancer Control estimated that by 2035 at least 5000 additional megavolt treatment machines would be needed to meet LMIC demands, together with about 30 000 radiation oncologists, 22 000 medical physicists and 80 000 radiation therapy technologists [2]. Among the main reasons for the shortfall identified in the workshop and thoroughly discussed in the Clinical Oncology special issue on radiotherapy in LMICs [3] are: (i) the initial cost of linear accelerators, (ii) the cost of service on the machines and (iii) a shortage of trained personnel needed to deliver safe, effective and high-quality treatment. A number of authors who contributed to the Clinical Oncology special issue are participating in the CERN, International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) collaborative effort described in this editorial (Aggarwal, Coleman, Court, Grover, Palta, Van Dyk and Zubizarreta).Changing the global radiation therapy paradigm.
Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 128:3 (2018) 393-399
Union of light ion therapy centers in Europe (ULICE EC FP7) – Objectives and achievements of joint research activities
Radiotherapy and Oncology Elsevier 128:1 (2018) 83-100
Abstract:
Under the umbrella of the European Network for Light Ion Therapy (ENLIGHT), the project on Union of Light Ion Centers in Europe (ULICE), which was funded by the European Commission (EC/FP7), was carried out from 2009 to 2014. Besides the two pillars on Transnational Access (TNA) and Networking Activities (NA), six work packages formed the pillar on Joint Research Activities (JRA). The current manuscript focuses on the objectives and results achieved within these research work packages: “Clinical Research Infrastructure”, “Biologically Based Expert System for Individualized Patient Allocation”, “Ion Therapy for Intra-Fractional Moving Targets”, “Adaptive Treatment Planning for Ion Radiotherapy”, “Carbon Ion Gantry”, “Common Database and Grid Infrastructures for Improving Access to Research Infrastructures”. The objectives and main achievements are summarized. References to either publications or open access deliverables from the five year project work are given. Overall, carbon ion radiotherapy is still not as mature as photon or proton radiotherapy. Achieved results and open questions are reflected and discussed in the context of the current status of carbon ion therapy and particle and photon beam therapy. Most research topics covered in the ULICE JRA pillar are topical. Future research activities can build upon these ULICE results. Together with the continuous increase in the number of particle therapy centers in the last years ULICE results and proposals may contribute to the further growth of the overall particle therapy field as foreseen with ENLIGHT and new joint initiatives such as the European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN) within the overall radiotherapy community.ENLIGHT: European network for Light ion hadron therapy.
Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 128:1 (2018) 76-82