UMCG and UG aim to functionally accommodate particle accelerator at UMCG

The University of Groningen (UG) and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) intend to connect KVI-CART’s Medical Physics research team to the Radiotherapy Department at the UMCG. It is also the intention to functionally place the AGOR particle accelerator, i.e. with the group of technicians who maintain and operate the facility, within UMCG’s Sector F.

In recent years, the UMCG and the UG, in conjunction with the UMCG Proton Therapy Center, have set up a comprehensive research programme that contributes to the further development of radiotherapy with protons and other ions. The research in radiation biology and radiation physics within this programme makes extensive use of the AGOR particle accelerator (Accélérateur Groningen-ORsay) at the KVI Center for Advanced Radiation Technology (KVI-CART) on the Zernike Campus. Recently, the UMCG and the UG have received substantial funding from KWF (the Dutch Cancer Society) to further develop research in radiation biology for this particle accelerator.

Partly for this reason, the university and the academic hospital have concluded that it is desirable to improve the integration of activities to strengthen research. Prior to final decision-making on the plans, the participation bodies of both institutions (University Council and Works Council) will be consulted in the coming months.