The University of Alberta has announced it will receive funding to develop MR real-time guided radiation therapy.
A prototype device will combine an MRI scanner with a linear accelerator to produce real-time 3D images; these images could potentially help pinpoint cancer tumors more accurately while treating the tumor with radiation therapy. The initiative will include the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services' Cross Cancer Institute, and industry partners.
The Canadian government will invest $2.5 million Canadian ($2.52 million U.S.) in the project, while the province of Alberta will contribute $250,000 ($252,000 U.S.) and the Alberta Cancer Foundation will offer $2.15 million ($2.17 million U.S.). Alberta Health Services, ASG Superconductors, and Paramed also will provide a total of $1.1 million ($1.11 million U.S.) of financial support.
The funds will go toward the purchase of an MRI scanner that is being advance engineered to create the full-scale prototype, according to the university.
