FOM contributes to proton research
The University of Groningen Medical Center (UMCG) and the KVI (Nuclear Physics Accelerator Institute) at the University of Groningen have received a grant for research that must lead to the national standard for measuring the proton dose in proton therapy. Technology Foundation STW has awarded a grant of 500,000 euro for this research and the Van Swinden Laboratory (VSL) in Delft is contributing 250,000 euro. On top of this, the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter has awarded 375,000 euro to KVI and Delft University of Technology to investigate, by means of simulations, how positron emission tomography (PET) can be used for dose verification in proton therapy. FOM's contribution comes from the research programme 'New Physical Instruments for Healthcare'. With this a total of one million euro has been awarded for research in Groningen and Delft into this new technique for irradiating tumours.
With protons, tumours can be irradiated with a high degree of precision and the surrounding tissue is better spared than with other methods. As the treatment result strongly depends upon the dose used, this must be determined at least as accurately as for conventional radiotherapy with X-rays. Currently the uncertainty in proton dosimetry is 3 to 4%. By comparison, this uncertainty is 1% for X-ray irradiation.
Dosimetry standard
The Radiotherapy Department of UMCG and the KVI will develop a portable standard dosimeter for VSL. VSL (previously Dutch Metrology Institute NMi) manages and develops the national measurement standards on behalf of the Dutch government. The experience that VSL gains with the dosimetry standard must lead to regulations and recommendations for the accurate measurement of proton doses in clinics.
During proton therapy, protons emit their radiation dose in a highly defined area at the location of the tumour (the Bragg peak). Consequently the surrounding healthy tissue receives relatively little radiation. It is vitally important that the correct radiation dose is spatially distributed as well as possible in the target area (the tumour). At present, PET is the only non- invasive technology that can be used to check if this is the case (dose verification). However, the technology needs to be further improved in this regard. KVI and Delft University of Technology will investigate the effect of improving PET technology for its application in proton therapy.
Proton therapy in the Netherlands
Based on some ten years of experience with research in the area of proton therapy, UMCG together with KVI, University of Groningen, University of Twente and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen (near Zurich, Switzerland) will develop plans for the construction of a proton facility on the UMCG site. This partnership is one of three consortiums that are currently developing plans for the construction of a proton clinic in the Netherlands. However, proton therapy will only become available for patients in the Netherlands if the treatment and its indication are included in the basic health insurance. The Care Insurance Board is expected to take a decision about this in the autumn.
FOM's contribution
FOM's contribution comes from the research programme 'New Physical Instruments for Healthcare'. This start programme of the NWO theme 'New Instruments for Healthcare' has been put together with input from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), Technology Foundation STW and the temporary taskforce ICTRegie. The start programme is focused on research into and/or the development (R&D) of new, in other words non-registered, instruments that are linked to health and/or medical functionality. FOM's research programme aims to stimulate high-quality technical and physical research that is important for the development of new instrumentation for diagnosis, treatment and/or the care of patients.
Information
For further information please contact the Communication Department of UMCG, telephone +31 (0)50 361 22 00.