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New imaging and therapy beamline announced

6 May 2009

Victorian Premier John Brumby tours the Australian Synchrotron.

The National Health and Medical Research Council and the Victorian Government have announced $14.7 million for a major upgrade to the imaging and therapy beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, enabling it to become one of most advanced medical beamlines in the world.

Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science director Professor Rob Lewis said the upgrade would allow the full range of medical applications requested by the research community to be realised.

"This beamline will produce images at micron level resolution while also allowing researchers to trial new radiotherapy techniques, creating the potential for more effective treatment," Professor Lewis said.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish said University staff had worked with fellow scientists, universities, the CSIRO and medical research institutes to develop the case to build the facility.

"This funding is a coup for Australian science, further cementing this region of Victoria as one of the nation's premier innovation precincts," Professor Cornish said.

Research Platforms Director Professor Ian Smith said the upgrade meant Australian scientists could take the first steps towards using synchrotron light for human imaging and therapy.

"This new imaging facility will provide a 'one stop shop' for researchers in Australia and across the world," Professor Smith said.

The Monash Institute of Medical Research will benefit from the expansion, and work with the synchrotron and the Cancer Council of Victoria on a project that could see cancer patients withstand radiotherapy treatment at much higher radiation levels with fewer side effects.

"Cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy currently receive broad ray beams, with treatment spread over a number of days to allow the healthy tissue to recover between doses," Chief investigator Professor Peter Rogers said.

"We will use the beamline to produce ray beams 10 billion times more intense than conventional radiotherapy ray machines."

For more information visit the Australian Synchrotron website.