Development of Innovative Proton and Neutron Therapies With High Cancer Specificity by ‘Hijacking’ the Intracellular Chemistry of Haem Biosynthesis
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University Medical Center Groningen

The PARticle Therapy REsearch Center (PARTREC) is a newly established research facility at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). PARTREC research activities are focused on medical applications and encompass medical physics, radiation biology, radiotherapy and instrumentation technology.

PARTREC operates the superconducting cyclotron AGOR and is unique in being able to provide proton and different types of ion beams, employed for a wide range of experiments in dedicated test beam rooms. Recently, it has received substantial funding from the Dutch Cancer Society and University of Groningen to upgrade its beam lines and to create an infrastructure for X-ray image guided stereotactic irradiations. In addition, PARTREC has the ability to support the users during the complete process of experiment development, the actual irradiation and its follow-up. For the animal irradiations, PARTREC can provide on-site animal accommodation with individually ventilated cage (IVCs) with a capacity of up to 200 rats and mice. For the experimental follow-up, the UMCG central animal facility for animal handling prior and post irradiation can be used. UMCG-GronSAI imaging center provides the possibilities to perform optical, structural and functional imaging of the animal models prior and post irradiation using fluorescence, bioluminescence, PET, CT, MR and multi-modality imaging systems. In addition, the local data management facilities could be used to store, process and analyze the irradiation related data.

Role within NuCapCure

The activity at UMCG will encompass the development of irradiation modalities at the pre-clinical research centre PARTREC. These include the radiation dose calculation considering the effects of the boron proton capture, as well as the set-up of a pre-clinical beam line for 3D image-guided irradiation. Irradiation with ultra-high dose rate to achieve extra sparing of the healthy tissue via the so-called FLASH effect will be developed. The subsequent radiobiological study will include the irradiation of GBM tumour models according to jointly developed protocols, their follow-up at the UMCG central animal facility, and tumour sample transcriptomic and histological analyses. The work at UMCG is led by Prof. Alexander Gerbershagen (physics) and Dr. Lara Barazzuol (radiobiology).

Main contact(s)

Photo of Alexander Gerbershagen

Alexander Gerbershagen

Photo of Lara Barazzuol

Lara Barazzuol

Photo of Marco Schippers

Marco Schippers

Our perspective on NuCapCure

We are excited to be on board of this promising initiative! Having unique capabilities and know-how in the domains of beam physics, dosimetry and radiobiology, our team aims at using those for the most auspicious proposals to push forward the field of cancer therapy. Using jointly elaborated models and protocols, while adding our own expertise, we envisage to make this project a success. We hope to be able to develop an experimental setup to perform world’s first combination of the increased tumour tissue impact via the boron proton capture and the healthy tissue sparing with help of the FLASH effect.

Alex Gerbershagen

University Medical Center Groningen