New radiation centre in Stockholm - a joint effort for the future of cancer treatment

“Precision-focused radiation therapy is a promising area of research. Karolinska Institutet values this initiative and the opportunity to participate in developing future cancer treatments in collaboration with other leading universities and Region Stockholm. I believe that this gathering of forces will be of great importance to many patients, their relatives and society at large,” says Karolinska Institutet's president Annika Östman Wernerson.

Almost half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy, which is an important cornerstone of treatment. The centre will bring together leading researchers, clinicians and engineers from academia, healthcare and industry, and strengthen Stockholm's and Sweden's position in precision-oriented radiation therapy and related areas.

“The fact that we are now joining forces through the formation of a centre for medical radiation science is both an important and natural development. KTH will contribute with its solid and long-standing expertise in both research and education, to jointly develop a more individualized and precise cancer treatment,” says Mikael Lindström, Deputy President of KTH.

Stockholm University also highlights the strong tradition of research and development in radiation therapy in Stockholm and the potential of pooling expertise and resources.

“Our universities and healthcare in Stockholm have a long tradition of research, education and clinical activities in radiation therapy, and a leading role nationally and globally in innovations and research on radiation therapy and medical radiation physics. Stockholm University, for example, has a very good collaboration between medical radiation physics and radiation biology, which will promote the centre's activities,” says Hans Adolfsson, President of Stockholm University.

The four parties have now signed a letter of intent for the centre, intending to build up the joint research and education environment in Hagastaden in Stockholm. The University Alliance Stockholm Trio has contributed to coordinating the planned initiative, with a focus on developing proposals for the advanced research infrastructure needed to further develop medical radiation science.

“It is encouraging that we now have a letter of intent for a centre for medical radiation science. To support this initiative, the three universities plan to invest in research infrastructure that will enable new research and help drive the development of tomorrow’s radiation therapy. This infrastructure has the potential to become a central hub for the development of medical radiation science in the Stockholm region and in Sweden,” says Karin Dahlman-Wright, Professor at Karolinska Institutet and Chair of the Stockholm Trio working group on research infrastructure.