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This article explores the benefits of establishing a Hadron Therapy Institute in the region, including political and scientific arguments, estimates of treatment needs, cost analysis, and conclusions.
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Hadron therapy facility - benefits for the region L. Litov Sofia University
Outlook • Arguments to establish the Institute • political • scientific • Arguments in favour of hadron therapy center • Estimates of the needs of the region of hadron therapy treatment • Estimates of the real cost of the center • Conclusions
SEEIIST • Objectives of the project • to promote collaboration between science, technology and industry • to build unique research infrastructure (Europe, World) • perform fundamental and applied research • educational center • transfer of technologies • The goals can only be achieved with one major new Institute based on the latest technologies to enable world class research
Arguments • Political arguments • EU declared its interest in projects leading to prosperity, stability and security in the Balkan region • Bulgaria considers very important development of the regional relations and collaboration in all fields • Bulgaria currently holds the presidency of EU • One of the main priorities are Western Balkans • The goal is • to mitigate the tensions in the region and to bust the economical and technological development of the region • improvement of the relations with EU common market and creations of conditions for prosperity of the region • The SEEIIST is considered as one of the important subpriorities
Scientific and economical benefits • Extension of the research infrastructure in the region • Creates conditions for common research projects and work • Oriented towards the future development • Development of new educational programs • Cooperation between EU member states and states applying for EU membership • Reduction of the brain drain • Attraction of scientists to return in the region • Attraction of leading scientist • Participation in EU projects in different areas of science, technologies and innovations • Attraction of additional financial resources for research and inovations
SEEIIST • Two options under consideration – both based on accelerators • Synchrotron Light Source with a new technique which is used for the first time in Lund, Sweden • Facility for Tumor Therapy and Biomedical Research with protons and heavier ions • Both options are very promising, realistic and ensuring achievement of the project goals • They are complementary • We should work for realization of both of them • Probably we’ll be forced to choose one of them • Some arguments for HT option
Some additional arguments for HT • Tendency of increase of the new cancer cases and dead cases in the region • Bulgarian data, to be normalized to the decreasing number of population
Some additional arguments for HT • Practically unavailable for the citizens of the region • Very expensive – 50 000 Euro at HIT
Some additional arguments for HT • The hadron therapy is one of the most advanced and effective methods for • tumor treatment • In operation – 76 • Ion therapy - 11 • In construction – 42 • Ion therapy - 3 • Planned – 22 • Ion therapy – 1 • Patient treated /2016/ - 149 345 • with protons • In 2016 – 21 580 with carbon ions
Some additional arguments for HT • Where is Europa?
Some additional arguments for HT • Do we need it? • Based on Bulgarian statistics and protocols for cancer treatment
Some additional arguments for HT • Bulgarian population 7.3 million • The population of the 9 countries in the project – 33 million • If Greece joins – 43 million • Population of Balkan peninsula (including European part of Turkey) – 75 millions • Estimated number of expected patients • SEEIIST member states ~ 1400 • + Greece ~ 1800 • Balkans ~ 3200 • Numbers strongly depend from the national protocols for cancer treatment and can vary significantly • The above numbers should be considered as a lower limit
Some additional arguments for HT • We have to build a unique research infrastructure • Existing ion therapy centers are treatment centers • Only little part of the beam time is used for research • There are many open questions to be answered • More than 50% of the beam time can be used for research • This center can be unique research center in the world • Attract researchers from Europe and rest of the world • Discussions with CERN • New design of the accelerator • Training of experts in accelerator physics • The BioLEIR program can be moved to this center • More 1000 scientist all over the world will perform investigations at the centre
Some additional arguments for HT • Sustainable running of the centre • First requirement is to prove that the centre will run and be used in the most efficient way • In case we build HT centre with four beam lines • Two of them – patients treatment • Two – research program
What is the real cost of the project • The center will be build in 6 years • Will start to work in 7th year • Needs 3 more years to reach full capacity – 9 years
What is the real cost of the project • The real cost strongly depends from the investment model • Three different schemes were simulated • 100% grant from EU or other sources • 80% grant and 20 % by the member states • 25% MS capital and 75% obtained by means of different financial instruments of EU (bank loans, Juncker plan etc.) • Other parameters • Two treatment rooms • Two experimental beams • Flexible prices (25000, 35000, 50000) • Center running cost • Constant part - ~ 7-8 million • Patient dependent part - ~ 5 milion
What is the real cost of the project • Equipment price – 165 millions • Includes – infrastructure, building, accelerator, treatment rooms, diagnostic medical center, research center, education and training of the personal, contingency fund • Additional spending to run the center in the first years, loans etc. • Total price • depends from the funding scheme • between 200 – 225 mln euro • Important – sustainable running of the institute • Four rooms – two patient treatment – will cover significant part of the running cost
What is the real cost of the project • At full capacity the center can generate income enough to • cover the running cost • To invest about 3-5 million for research • Additional 5 million member states contribution • Total research budget 8 – 10 million • Sustainable functioning of the center
Conclusions • There are many very strong political scientific and economic arguments to establish SEEIIST • Many benefits, majority common for all member states • Write political moment to start the project • There is a number of strong arguments in favour of HT option • Unique research infrastructure at European and world level • Possible significant participation of CERN • Sustainable running of the Institute • Cost estimates • Strongly depend on investment scheme • Real cost at the level of 205 – 230 million euro • Bulgaria will work for the realization of both options