Published on the 28th March 2019 by ANSTO Staff
One of ANSTO’s leading physicists with expertise in the measurement of radiation, Dr Dale Prokopovich (pictured below), is travelling to Austria to participate in the commissioning of new capabilities within the MedAustron technology, cancer treatment and research centre.
MedAustron, a state-of-the-art accelerator facility for particle therapy treatment and research, is in the process of commissioning an experimental room, as well as therapy beamlines for patient treatment with carbon ions.
Prokopovich is closely involved in ANSTO’s efforts to support the introduction of particle therapy, an advanced, innovative type of radiation therapy for difficult-to-treat cancers, in Australia. Australia’s first particle therapy facility using protons is being built in Adelaide.
ANSTO is working with various health and science organisations in Australia in support of establishing proton and carbon ion therapy facilities in Australia.
Prokopovich was a presenter at the 3rd National Particle Therapy Symposium held this month in Brisbane.
CEO Adi Paterson officially opened the conference and delivered a presentation explaining particle therapy and its potential to save lives in Australia to a public audience as part of the symposium.
The event was organised by an Australia-wide group of clinicians, scientists, and patient support and advocacy groups who are promoting the opportunities and benefits that particle therapy could bring to Australia.
It included updates from the Australian particle therapy collaborative network, discussion of opportunities for clinical and non-clinical research, presentations on international particle therapy efforts, and informative sessions on the experiences of consumers.
The Symposium was hosted by the Queensland Government Metro North Hospital and Health Service, with support from ANSTO, The University of Sydney, University of Wollongong Australia, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, SAHMRI (the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute), Western Sydney Local Health District, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
A communique from the Symposium is expected to be released very soon.
“As we get closer to the day when particle therapy is available to Australians, this opportunity to gain experience in the commissioning and use of the technology will benefit Australia in making sure we are at the cutting edge,” said Prokopovich.