Technology to optimise cancer therapy receives funding boost

Technology to improve proton beam therapy has received a £300,000 funding boost from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

JetDose has been developed by the University of Liverpool in collaboration with beam instrumentation innovator, D-Beam, ion beam treatment facilities leader, IBA, and clinical facilities in the UK and abroad.

The technology optimises dose delivery and provides real-time beam monitoring during proton beam therapy, a form of radiotherapy that accurately targets cancer, while minimising damage to healthy tissue.

Existing techniques to calibrate the dose in proton beam therapy can be time consuming, interfere with the beam and require regular maintenance.

JetDose project leader and physics head of department at the University of Liverpool, Professor Carsten Welsch, shared that the technology has the potential to fulfil a global unmet need.

“A complete knowledge of the beam properties is essential to ensure effective cancer treatment, so calibration is done at intervals. Currently there is no way to do this without interfering with the beam,” he highlighted.

“JetDose provides non-invasive assessment that will run in parallel with the treatment, continuously monitoring the beam in real-time to ensure the highest levels of accuracy and safety,” Welsch emphasised.

He added that the technology shows promise for application within other high intensity, high energy particle accelerators.

“This wider market will be assessed as part of the business plan that will be developed,” Welsch said.

OT has previously described the experience of a patient who received proton beam therapy after an appointment with her optometrist resulted in a diagnosis of ocular melanoma.