Collaboration with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
OMA fellows Jacinta and Ewa, along with colleagues from the QUASAR Group, University of Liverpool, visited the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC) in Liverpool last Tuesday. Clatterbridge is home to the first proton beam therapy facility in the world and is also currently the only operating cancer center in the UK. Since 1989, thousands of patients from all over the world have sought treatment at CCC for ocular cancer.
The day visit was led by Dr Andrzej Kacperek, head of the Douglas Cyclotron who gave an overview of the facilities, treatment process, as well as a tour of the treatment room and cyclotron bunker. CCC is involved in several multidisciplinary projects and Dr Kacperek also provided an introduction to the ongoing work and research.
Overall, it was an enlightening experience to see behind the scenes of the clinical environment and the technology required to make treatment possible. Being able to tour the rooms and talk with Dr Kacperek and fellow colleagues was also an invaluable opportunity as Jacinta will return in the future to carry out experiments and secondments as part of her OMA project. By the end of the day everyone left with a lasting impression - it is remarkable that for more than 30 years, proton therapy has been successfully treating eye cancers here in North West England. Since its beginnings, much of the expertise, research and development have originated from on site and no doubt, there will be more to come.