Hadron Therapy Center project works launched at KIU

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Tuesday, February 2

The treatment of the first patient is scheduled for 2024.

Hadron therapy uses beams of charged particles like protons, carbon ions and other ions to kill tumor tissue. Unlike photons or electrons, which release energy along the length of their path, the charged particles deliver most of their damaging energy in one burst inside the tumor.

The design works of the Hadron Therapy Center have started at Kutaisi International University (KIU). The project is implemented by one of the world's leading architectural bureaus, the Spanish IDOM team. Representatives of the company visited the campus last week. Teams from IBA (Belgium), a leading company in the treatment of cancer through proton therapy, also arrived in Georgia to participate in the project.

The contract between KIU and IBA signed in the beginning of 2020, includes the production of Proteus®ONE clinical equipment and the production of an additional cyclotron for scientific research. Proton therapy center will be installed on the campus of the university.

The research center will be able to conduct scientific research in elementary particle physics, radiation physics and biophysics. The research center will also support the establishment of a proton therapy center, in conjunction with the KIU School of Medicine.

“The Hadron Therapy Center is the biggest challenge in the field of healthcare,” said Pablo Elores, the representative of IDOM Architectural Bureau in Kutaisi, who is the project director and architect. According to him this project is important not only locally for the region where it is being created, but for the whole country, because today the Cancer Research Center is responding to the challenging demands that are being created around the world.

“The IBA is pleased to participate in this wonderful project. It has extensive experience in the field of cancer treatment with the newest technologies,” said Carlos Egeres-Simones, Design Manager of the Hadron Therapy Center. He also informed that IBA is currently working on its technologies and in particular, cyclotrons, and expressed hope that after the process is completed, it will be possible to install these cyclotrons immediately.

The opening of the Hadron Therapy Center at the University is planned for 2024, the project is funded and implemented by the International Charity Fund" Cartu with a grant of about ˆ40 million.

According to Nikoloz Chkhetiani, Chairman of the Board of the Cartu Foundation, Hadron therapy center will be a unique segment of KIU, which will allow the university to conduct research and experiments in the field of physics. It will also function as a medical center that will offer oncology patients treatment with a new methodology.

KIU opened in 2020 and received its first stream of students. The university aims to gradually become one of the leading centers of international research and education in the region. Undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs will be developed on the basis of the University Laboratories by attracting relevant science and leading experts in the field at KIU.

The University cooperates with the leading higher education institution in Europe - the Technical University of Munich (TUM).