Course Directors

• Uulke van der Heide, Medical Physicist, The Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (NL)
• Luca Boldrini, Radiation Oncologist Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome (IT)

Teachers

• Stefanie Corradini, Radiation Oncologist, LMU Klinikum, Munich (DE)
• Cihan Gani, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen (DE)
• Sebastian Klűter, Medical Physicist, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg (DE)
• Faisal Mahmood, Medical Physicist, Odense University Hospital ,Odense (DK)
• Helen McNair, Lead Research Radiographer, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton (UK)
• Stella Mook, Radiation Oncologist, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht (NL)

The technological development in Image Guided Radiotherapy has led to the introduction of hybrid machines linking an MRI scanner to a linear accelerator. The possibility to have high soft tissue contrast with no extra dose to the patient and live imaging to gate the treatment delivery opens new frontiers in the world of adaptive radiotherapy. The complexity of this discipline requires advanced skills in the fields of physics and radiotherapy.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Understand the technology underlying the hybrid MR Linac system, discussing the differences between high and low magnetic field machines
• Appreciate the clinical rationale of in room MRI-guided RT and its possible applications in the frame of modern IGRT
• Understand the clinical workflow of an in-room MRI-guided RT treatment and the role of all the involved professionals
• Become familiar with the most innovative online adaptive radiotherapy approaches
• Identify the most appropriate patients positioning solutions
• Appreciate the different planning strategies of MRI-guided RT
• Become familiar with patients selection criteria and MRI safety issues

Course Content/Programme

The course will cover the following topics:

For all participants:

Multi-disciplinary introduction

• Introduction: From IGRT to in-room MRI-Guided Radiotherapy, the technology, medical and RTT

• MR-simulation and MR-guided Radiotherapy: common aspects and differences

• MRgRT and brachytherapy

In-room MRI

• Hybrid MR-guided RT machines: Low field vs. high field

• Clinical workflow of an in-room MRI-Guided Radiotherapy treatment

• In-room MR image processing and planning

Wrap up

• Online adaptive radiotherapy: workflow and criticalities

• RT and MR safety

For Radiation Oncologists and RTTs

MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy

• MR Physics: Basic Introduction

• Artifacts in MRI: clinical point of view

• Decision Making: when do adapt a treatment fraction?

• Immobilization devices and MR simulation in MR-guided RT

• Management of breathing motion in MR-guided RT

For Radiation Oncologists

Clinical on-line MRI-guided radiotherapy

• Clinical Indications for MR-guided Radiotherapy treatment

• Patient selection criteria and compliance assessment

• Clinical Experience in MR-guided Radiotherapy

• Quantitative and functional imaging during MRI-guided Radiotherapy (RO/RTT)

For Physicists

MRI Physics

• Artifacts in MRI: physical point of view

• Quality Control for MR in Radiotherapy

• Motion management with MRI gating

Handling the magnetic field, motion and biology

• Dosimetry in the presence of magnetic fields

• Patient-specific QA in online adaptive MRgRT

• Quantitative and functional imaging during MRI-guided Radiotherapy (MP)

For RTTs:

On-line treatment towards functional guidance

• Patient Positioning: Brain, Head and Neck, Thorax, Upper Abdomen and Pelvis

• Practicalities for patient management and workflow

• Basic principles of OARs contouring on MR

• Quantitative and functional imaging during MRI-guided Radiotherapy (RO/RTT)

Course Design

This course will take place over a 4,5 weeks period and will be delivered using a blended learning approach, i.e. a combination of an online kick-off plus recorded online seminars and a live component with workshops in Rome.

An online kick-off webinar will be offered as the official introduction with the teachers and peers

• The theoretical components will be delivered using the ESTRO Moodle, the ESTRO Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), where recorded presentations will be available for participants to join at a time that suits them before traveling to Rome (only available from 26 September onwards)
• The live component in Rome will mainly consists out of brief summaries from the recorded lectures + workshops and ample time for discussion. 

For the updated calendar please consult the ESTRO website page of this course.

Prerequisites

Defined for each of the disciplines, basic knowledge of radiation oncology, radiation physics and magnetic resonance imaging are prerequisites.

Teaching Methods

• 1 hour live webinar
• 20 hours of viewing recorded tutorials
• 15 hours of live course in Rome

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ (pre & post course)

• Evaluation form

To follow

To follow

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2026 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In-Training fee

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policy. ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take insurance policies to cover flight and accommodation cancellation penalties. ESTRO will not refund any travel or accommodation expenses.

For any cancellation made by the course participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.  In addition, medical physicists from Cyprus can email education@estro.org to apply for this fee.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2026 are eligible (please make sure your 2026 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  

 Please note:

• We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course
• Application deadlines are the same as early registration fees