Proton therapy and UMCG treatment centre
Description
Proton therapy and construction of treatment centre at UMCG
Radiotherapy with proton beams is a relatively new treatment method for tumours that will also become available to patients in the Netherlands in the course of 2017. The UMCG in Groningen is one of the first hospitals in the Netherlands to start offering treatment with protons in addition to traditional photon irradiation. Construction of the proton therapy centre at UMCG began in 2015. The first patients will be treated at the end of 2017.
Proton therapy is a form of radiotherapy in which the dose of radiation can be administered more precisely, resulting in less radiation entering normal tissues. This reduces the risk of side effects from radiation.
The KIVI Biomedical Technology (BMT) and North Region departments are organising a joint activity that will cover both the physical background of proton therapy and its medical applications and the construction of the treatment centre. The programme consists of two parts, one in spring and one in autumn 2016.
The first activity will take place on Monday 6 June next and consists of a visit to the KVI-CART, the Centre for Advanced Radiation Technology of the Nuclear Physics Accelerator Institute the RUG. Prof Sytze Brandenburg, professor of accelerator physics at the KVI, will give a lecture on the physics of proton therapy. This will be followed by a tour of the particle accelerator.
The mission of the KVI-CART is to carry out pure scientific research in subatomic and in astroparticle physics and application-oriented research in accelerator physics and medical physics.
Programme
16.00 - 16.30 h Reception KVI-CART with coffee/tea/fresh drinks and refreshments
16.30 - 17.15 h 'Physics for proton therapy', lecture by Prof Sytze Brandenburg, professor of accelerator physics at KVI
17.15 - 18.00 h Tour of the accelerator
The second activity is planned in autumn 2016. A visit to the proton therapy treatment centre under construction will take a closer look at the special building requirements and construction aspects. Further information will follow on KIVI's calendar of activities.
The contours of the proton therapy centre are becoming increasingly visible. The roof of the clinic area was poured at the end of January 2016 and the installation of the facades around the building has started.
Participation is free for members. The maximum number of participants is 30. Guests are welcome if this number is not reached. The cost for introducers is €5.00 per participant.
Location
Zernikelaan 25, 9747 AA Groningen
Organiser
Region North
Medical Technology
Name and contact details for information
Natasha Maurits | 050-3612411 | n.m.maurits@umcg.nl or Jan Schipper | 06-42887726 | j.y.schipper@hi.nl
