About the Research Center for Radiation Medicine
Chang Gung University established the Research Center for Radiation Medicine (RCRM) with a forward-looking, multidisciplinary approach. By integrating fundamental research in medical physics, medical imaging, and radiation biology, the center supports the clinical applications of proton therapy and develops key technologies for particle therapy, aiming to achieve international excellence in this field.
Technical Services
To support the necessary technical services for research, the RCRM serves as a shared core facility platform, offering services in dosimetry assessment, imaging evaluation, as well as animal and cell experiments. Given the scarcity of high-energy proton and quasi-monoenergetic neutron facilities in Taiwan, the center’s Particle Beam Laboratory and Core Laboratories are open to the Chang Gung medical system and external institutions. This openness maximizes the utility of these facilities and assists in building a robust national environment for particle research.
Advantages of Particle Therapy
Particle therapy utilizes protons or heavy ions to non-invasively eradicate tumor cells, offering distinct advantages over conventional photon radiotherapy, including:
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Conformal Dose Distribution: Radiation dose is highly concentrated on cancer cells, which enhances tumor control rates while minimizing side effects in surrounding normal tissues.
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Higher Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE): The superior radiation quality translates to a higher RBE, meaning a lower physical dose is required to effectively destroy cancer cells.
Particle therapy represents the most advanced frontier in contemporary international radiation oncology. To fully leverage its benefits, high-quality particle therapy must be supported by forward-looking, cross-disciplinary basic and clinical research. Key complementary requirements include high-quality imaging, high-precision localization, highly accurate dosimetry, and the precise control of the cellular microenvironment.