In a significant stride towards transforming cancer treatment, the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), under the guidance of Ilker Meric, has launched the NOVO project, The project embodies a 'high risk – high gain' initiative and aims to develop advanced and precise cancer treatment by enhancing proton therapy.

Understanding Proton Therapy

To grasp the concept of proton therapy, picture cancer treatment as an exercise in precision archery. In this scenario, the bullseye on the target represents the tumor. Traditional radiation therapy, or photon therapy, is like shooting a powerful arrow that not only hits the target but also passes through it, potentially causing damage to the area behind it. This represents the way photon therapy can affect healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. 

In contrast, proton therapy can be likened to using an arrow that stops exactly at the bullseye. Instead of light rays (photons), this therapy uses protons — tiny, energetic particles. These protons are remarkable in their ability to deposit most of their energy precisely at the tumor site and then come to a complete stop, significantly reducing the impact on nearby healthy tissues. This ability of protons makes them even more important in cancer treatment as both traditional radiotherapy and proton therapy consist of many (hundreds of) such arrows to cause sufficient damage to kill the tumor.

Traditionally, both methods would require a post-shot analysis, where you check the impact of each shot and adjust your aim to hit the bullseye, which represents the tumor. This process, while necessary, is often time-consuming and could potentially compromise precision.

 The Role of the NOVO Project's Detector

The NOVO project seeks to make proton therapy even more accurate and efficient. Imagine it as adding a real-time tracking system into our archery analogy. This detector allows us to adjust our aim instantly and ensure that each arrow hits the right spot.

Project leader Ilker Meric explains, “With the NOVO project’s technology, we're not just shooting an arrow and hoping it lands correctly. We're actively tracking its arrival at the target the target and fine-tune the next shot if necessary.” This detector being developed can accurately identify where the proton energy is released, making real-time adjustments for precision. This ensures the treatment is as targeted as possible, focusing solely on the cancerous cells while sparing the healthy tissue around them.

The Impact of This Technology

In summary, the NOVO project is about enhancing the precision of cancer treatment, making it safer and more effective. It's a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, not just in Norway but potentially around the world, offering hope for a future where cancer treatments come with fewer risks and better outcomes.

A Multidisciplinary Endeavor

The NOVO project is a unique collaboration of various competencies, illustrating that success in such a cutting-edge field requires much more than a singular focus. It demands a blend of clinical understanding, physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, electronics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Each discipline brings a critical component to the table.

“The goal for the NOVO project is not only to be pioneering in proton therapy but also in demonstrating how multidisciplinary efforts can lead to monumental achievements in healthcare,” says project leader Ilker Meric  

For more information about the NOVO project contact project leader Ilker Meric, Ilker.Meric@hvl.no / novoeic@hvl.no. +47 55 58 76 83