Programme

Overview: Drawing from the spirit of ESTRO’s theme 'Transformative innovation through partnership', we will explore how innovation is financed, whether academically or commercially, through to the point of use in the clinic. By considering the cost of research and development and outlining the funding that is required, we will better understand how money flows through the system and appreciate the role each participant has as we collaborate to improve patient care. Short presentations by the various stakeholders in the innovation pipeline will be followed by a panel discussion, giving substantial time to questions from the floor.

Overview: Will climate change impact cancer care? How big is the carbon footprint from radiotherapy? What can I do to make radiotherapy more sustainable? If you think these questions are important, we welcome you to join this symposium to get more insights. You will learn about potential disruptions in radiotherapy treatment continuity caused by extreme weather events and their potential effects on patient outcome. Also, health care – including radiotherapy – is a source of carbon footprint. This symposium will give you an overview of the most important contributors to the radiotherapy carbon footprint as well as an introduction to effective mitigations strategies. Finally, there will be a discussion about why and how the healthcare system can transform towards sustainability – e.g. through value-based healthcare, innovative solutions, research and education.

Overview: This session explores five innovations that could shape the future of proton therapy: Proton Arc therapy, Upright proton therapy, Online-adaptive proton therapy, Real-time MR-integrated proton therapy, and Proton FLASH. Experts on these developments will present their views on the potential of the innovations to improve the efficiency, precision, and clinical impact of proton therapy. Furthermore, the speakers will also address current limitations and challenges. Following a panel discussion, the audience will vote on which innovation makes the most compelling case for impacting the future of proton therapy.