Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Choy, Hak Project Summary The United States currently does not offer to its cancer patients irradiation with ions heavier than protons. There are five facilities in Asia and two in Europe that currently treat patients with nuclei of carbon ions, many of them contributing to clinical trials to explore every advantage of heavy ion therapy. UT Southwestern created a three phase proposal to construct a tri-modality Texas Center for Advanced Radiation Therapy including a proton therapy (phase 1), a photon therapy (phase 2) and a heavier ion therapy (phase 3) facility. Phase 1 is already under construction, phase 2 is also funded and at a stage of architectural designing. Phase 3 is being planned. The goal of this pilot project is to identify the potential research questions associated with the use of charged particles in radio therapy and to determine the design parameters and specifications for the research beam line and related infrastructure to address these questions. We plan to achieve this goal via a rigorous, scientific, comprehensive and peer-reviewed approach as described with three specific aims: 1) Commission two task groups charged with developing a comprehensive analysis of the questions associated with the use of the charged particle therapy and with designing the specifications for the necessary components of beam line and infrastructure; 2) Determine the potential research scope of the National Particle Research Center; 3) Develop specifications related to the research beam-line, facility, and infrastructure PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09) Page Continuation Format Page
Choy, Hak Project Narrative The goal of this pilot project is to determine the potential research directions for the proposed National Particle Therapy Research Center - NPTRC as well as the design parameters and specifications of the research beam line and research infrastructure in order to pursue the research directions determined. The reason for such comprehensive approach is three fold: it will guide the design of the experiments; it will allow the TCART design group to understand user needs and incorporate them into facility design from the very beginning of planning; and will serve as the basis for future R&D within the NPTRC. PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09) Page Continuation Format Page
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