CSU, CU to collaborate on feasibility study for possible $300M carbon-ion cancer facility

By: InnovatioNews Thursday September 25, 2014 Tags: Aurora, Boulder, CSU, CU, Dr. Mark Stetter, Dr. Richard Krugman, Fort Collins

 

FORT COLLINS - Colorado cancer researchers and medical doctors announced they are launching a $200,000 feasibility study as a first step toward building the nation's first carbon-ion radiotherapy research and treatment facility in Aurora.

The researchers hope the facility will provide leading-edge radiation therapy that is proving effective against the deadliest cancers and now available only in Europe and Japan.

The center being envisioned would cost an estimated $300 million.

Project collaborators include cancer experts at the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. The two universities have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue the project with University of Colorado Health's Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and carbon-ion radiotherapy pioneers at the National Institute of Radiological Science (NIRS) in Japan, where the first such facility was built.

"Cancer experts at CSU have worked for several years with colleagues at the CU School of Medicine and NIRS to explore the possibility of a carbon-ion research and treatment facility in Denver," said Dr. Mark Stetter, dean of the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences.

"It's clear that our collaboration offers distinct advantages for an international carbon-ion center that would provide truly needed help for animal and human cancer patients."

"We're excited to be part of a collaboration that will offer one-of-a-kind carbon-ion research and treatment here in Colorado," said Dr. Richard Krugman, CU's vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

Money for the feasibility study will come from CU, CSU and key university units involved in the project.