PARTNER Project

Hadrontherapy uses particle beams to treat tumours located near critical organs and tumours that respond poorly to conventional radiation therapy. It has become evident that there is an emerging need for reinforcing research in hadrontherapy and it is essential to train professionals in this rapidly developing field. PARTNER is a 4-year Marie Curie Training project funded by the European Commission with 5.6 million Euros aimed at the creation of the next generation of experts. Ten academic institutes and research centres and two leading companies are participating in PARTNER, that is coordinated by CERN, forming a unique multidisciplinary and multinational European network. The project offers research and training opportunities to 25 young biologists, engineers, physicians and physicists and is allowing them to actively develop modern techniques for treating cancer in close collaboration with leading European Institutions. For this purpose PARTNER relies on cutting edge research and technology development, effective networking, and open access to national facilities as well as providing training by specialists in this field. Ongoing PARTNER activities aim to: Create new knowledge through multidisciplinary s • tudies • Enhance clinical research • Implement the most recent developments from e-Health • Develop the next generation of monitors and detectors • Advance the European common demonstration platform • Train and educate through workshops and courses the European clinicians and medical physicists.