The Particle Therapy Masterclass demonstrates the direct impact of fundamental research on medical applications. This Masterclass Project allows participants to familiarise with the actual operation technique used for cancer treatment employing x-rays, protons or carbon ions like a physical knife directed by software programs. A first idea can be given by a demo of a professional research software toolkit matRad showing the different steps for a treatment planning for cancer therapy. 

The Particle Therapy Masterclass is integrated in the International Physics Masterclasses, a well-established outreach educational activity and flagship project of the International Particle Physics Outreach Group, IPPOG, spread around the world.

The aim of the new Masterclass package on Particle Therapy is to highlight the importance of fundamental research and its direct impact on society, developing on the theme of using the acquired knowledge on particles and their interaction with matter in medical applications (notable example the PET scanning). In particular, to focus on the applications related to using particles for cancer therapy. 

The new Masterclass on “Particle Therapy” is based on a professional research software toolkit matRad used by the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ in Heidelberg, Germany.

The Particle Therapy Masterclass, following the usual pattern of the International Masterclassesis performed in parallel at up to 5 different institutes and/or universities in the same day. The hands-on session is followed by a common video-conference meeting to discuss the results.