Real-time Adaptive Particle Therapy of Cancer (RAPTOR)
RAPTOR brings together 13 Beneficiaries and 15 partner organizations with one aim in common: To bring adaptive particle therapy to the clinic.
Introduction
The high precision of PT comes as a double-edged sword since PT is normally less robust than X-ray radiotherapy. Several uncertainties, such as changes in anatomy, positioning, organ delineation and systematic uncertainties can have a significant impact on where the final dose is delivered. The reliability of PT has increased in recent years with robust treatment planning, however, it still remains sensitive to larger uncertainties that have to be minimized to exploit the full benefit of PT.
The clinical workflow in PT has been adopted from conventional X-ray radiotherapy, where the treatment plan is based on the initial computed tomography (CT) scan of a patient. Since, the treatment usually lasts several weeks, it is likely that the initial treatment plan becomes less valid due to the changes of the patient anatomy as the treatment progresses.
We propose a shift in the paradigm
- Preparing a daily PT treatment plan for each patient, that is based on current patient images, would significantly increase treatment accuracy since most of the uncertainties would be minimized.
- The advantages of PT could be better utilized in an interventional capacity.
- Due to its flexibility and rapid adaptation, RAPTOR will enable treating patients in the sitting and standing positions, which will facilitate simpler, more compact, and less costly beamline designs.
- RAPTOR will therefore make the benefits of proton therapy available to many more patients.

Our research projects
News & Articles

PhD position @Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) on Photon yield measurements for treatment verification in proton therapy
A very interesting opportunity @Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
Follow the link to learn more about the open position:
PhD Student (f/m/d) Photon yield measurements for treatment verification in proton therapy

Registrations for the RAPTOR SCHOOL – LOOP ENGAGEMENT are now open!
Register for the RAPTOR SCHOOL – LOOP ENGAGEMENT 📆 The event will take place from 10. to 15. September 2023 in Congressi Stefano Franscini

First International UMCG Proton Therapy Lustrum Symposium
First International UMCG Proton Therapy Lustrum Symposium 📢 The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Groningen kindly invites the RAPTOR consortium partners

PhD position @Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) on Photon yield measurements for treatment verification in proton therapy
A very interesting opportunity @Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
Follow the link to learn more about the open position:
PhD Student (f/m/d) Photon yield measurements for treatment verification in proton therapy

Registrations for the RAPTOR SCHOOL – LOOP ENGAGEMENT are now open!
Register for the RAPTOR SCHOOL – LOOP ENGAGEMENT 📆 The event will take place from 10. to 15. September 2023 in Congressi Stefano Franscini

First International UMCG Proton Therapy Lustrum Symposium
First International UMCG Proton Therapy Lustrum Symposium 📢 The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Groningen kindly invites the RAPTOR consortium partners

EXTENDED DEADLINE: PhD job offer within the project RAPTOR n*3, CBCT enhancement strategies for adaptive ion beam therapy
The RAPTOR – Real-time Adaptive Particle Therapy Of canceR Innovative Training Network (ITN) is recruiting 1 highly motivated PhD student to work on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Enhancement.
Member of RAPTOR Consortium
RAPTOR brings together 13 Beneficiaries and 15 partner organizations from all over Europe with one aim in common: To bring adaptive particle therapy to the clinic.
