In collaboration with Riga Technical University, the CERN Accelerator School is proud to present a CAS course on Medical Accelerators in Latvia.
Particle accelerators, known since decades as cornerstones of fundamental physics research, nowadays evolved into indispensable tools for society across diverse fields. This course focuses on profound and widespread accelerator applications in medicine, particularly in oncology and in nuclear medicine. By bridging the communities of accelerator science and medical physics, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the field from both technological and clinical perspectives.
Course Content
Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and practical discussions, you will gain a deep understanding of:
- Medical and Biological Foundations: An introduction to radiobiology and oncological issues, setting the stage for therapeutic applications.
- Accelerator Essentials: The fundamental principles of accelerators and beam delivery systems.
- Types of Accelerators: The specific design and operational particularities of linear accelerators, cyclotrons, and synchrotrons in medical settings.
- Clinical Applications: Various medical treatment types and their technical implementations, from traditional radiation therapy to advanced techniques.
- Isotope Production: The use of accelerators for the production and handling of short-lived radioisotopes, as essential elements for medical imaging.
- Regulatory Framework: The critical regulatory topics governing the use of accelerators in a clinical environment.
- Future Concepts: An overview of novel acceleration techniques and future treatment modalities.
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for a diverse audience, including:
- Early-career professionals - from accelerator laboratories, university departments, and companies manufacturing accelerator equipment - who would like to learn about medical applications of accelerators.
- Medical physicists and professionals - in hospitals and medical centres - who wish to deepen their understanding of the machines they use.
- Postgraduate students and PhD candidates - from accelerator science, engineering, medical physics, or related fields – who wish to join the field.
- Experienced professionals interested in new trends and advancements in the field.
We welcome applications from all countries and nationalities. Please note that applicants are responsible for ensuring that their registration fee and travel costs are covered by their home institute, employer, or themselves.
Important Application Information
Early applicants will be given priority in the selection process. With a limited number of participants, we strongly advise you to apply early to secure your place. Waiting until the application deadline approaches may reduce your chances of being selected. Also keep in mind that there is a limited number of single rooms available which will be given on a first-come-first serve principle. Once the course is full, we will close the registration.
We also offer a limited number of student grants for participants from countries with developing accelerator fields who would otherwise be unable to attend. Note that grant applications must fulfil the same requirements as standard applications. More details can be found under the 'Apply for a Student Grant' section.
We would like to express our gratitude to Euro-Labs. By sponsoring four extra grant students, they enable more talented researchers to join and benefit from our training program.
Important dates
- Wednesday 8 October 25 - registration opens
- Monday 13 April 26 – final deadline for applications (unless course is fully booked before)
- Thursday 30 April 26- registration fee payment deadline
- Monday 15 June 26 (afternoon/evening) - participants arrivals
- Friday 26 June 26 (morning) - departure
