Dutch Cancer Society subsidizes two proton therapy research projects

The first patients have already been successfully treated with proton therapy. The upcoming years, this treatment technique will be further optimised. The research group of Professor Sytze Brandenburg was awarded a 2.8 million euro grant to develop techniques for image-guided radiotherapy, and to improve patient-individual treatment plan design. These developments will also ensure an improved matching between proton therapy and other treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. 

Rob Coppes, from the UMCG, will receive 1.7 million euro for his research related to the effects of proton radiotherapy on various biological processes in the human body. The acquired knowledge will allow improvements in the application of proton therapy. He will initially focus his research on patients with a brain tumor or a tumor in the head-and-neck region. For these patients especially, any damage to healthy tissues can lead to major detrimental health effects. A more focussed and more accurate application of the radiation treatment therefor is of very high importance.