New System for Treating Eye Tumors with Protons and Enhancement of Clinical Research
The Ion Therapy and Research Center MedAustron, located in Wiener Neustadt, has been one of the world’s leading institutions for cancer treatment using protons and carbon ions since 2016. With over 2,700 completed treatments and a significant milestone achieved with the first proton therapy treatment of a patient with uveal melanoma in Austria, the center continues to set new standards in cancer therapy. This new expansion, recent study results, and future development plans were presented today at a press conference with Deputy Governor of Lower Austria Stephan Pernkopf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Klaus Schneeberger.
In his opening remarks, Stephan Pernkopf emphasized the importance of science and research, stressing that political frameworks must be in place to give patients renewed courage and hope:
“We all know someone in our personal lives who has faced a cancer diagnosis and understand the immense burden that comes with it. In such moments, quick assistance and effective treatment are the most important forms of support. Providing this hope and confidence to affected individuals has always been a goal of MedAustron. In Wiener Neustadt, we offer a highly precise treatment available at only six locations worldwide. For us, it is particularly important that people diagnosed with cancer do not have to undertake long journeys. The best possible cancer treatment is available right here in Lower Austria.” – Stephan Pernkopf
MedAustron makes a significant contribution to healthcare in Lower Austria and beyond through innovative cancer treatment and research. Clinical studies are a core element at MedAustron, aiming to generate objective evidence according to international standards for the effectiveness of particle therapy and specific therapy concepts. A prospective registry study for all patient groups and several disease-specific clinical studies continuously produce data that is regularly published in academic journals.
In this context, MedAustron’s clinical studies department will receive funding of up to €1.8 million from the state of Lower Austria for the years 2025 to 2029.
“The state of Lower Austria is committed to providing fresh funds for the studies department, with an additional €1.8 million being invested. This will ensure that research results can reach patients even faster – research that saves lives,” said Stephan Pernkopf.
This funding will enable the realization of clinical studies that, in collaboration with other radiation oncology centers in Austria, will define the role of particle therapy for selective indications compared to conventional radiation therapy.
Approximately 250 employees from over 20 nations at MedAustron share the common goal of curing cancer and preserving or improving the quality of life for patients. The interdisciplinary collaboration between medicine and technology is the heart of MedAustron.
Klaus Schneeberger, Chairman of the MedAustron Supervisory Board, emphasized:
“We have incredible employees – the best experts in technology, physics, and medicine – making this a competence center that is unparalleled across Europe.”
Reflecting on MedAustron’s origins, he highlighted the center as one of the few examples of how the fundamental research conducted at CERN, the European particle physics laboratory, can be successfully applied. He noted how an agreement between the federal government, the state of Lower Austria, and the city of Wiener Neustadt in 2004 paved the way for the center’s establishment.
After six years of interdisciplinary development and preparation, MedAustron now offers a new treatment method: the first patient with uveal melanoma was treated with protons in November 2024. The successful integration into existing systems and workflows enables MedAustron to immediately commence treatment for uveal melanomas, leveraging the advantages of particle therapy to optimally protect sensitive structures nearby.
Eugen B. Hug, Medical Director and Managing Director, explained:
“The challenge was to implement eye treatment with the precision of this facility while developing a system that is flexible and can be assembled and disassembled as needed. This flexibility allows the system to integrate seamlessly into clinical operations, for instance, when only two out of fifty planned treatments are eye treatments.”
He continued:
“MedAustron operates with three guiding principles: the center is well-established in Austria’s radiation oncology landscape; we ensure the generation of evidence through clinical studies; and the synergy between medicine, medical physics, and physics allows us to pioneer entirely new treatment options, such as the treatment of uveal melanomas.”
MedAustron’s impact extends from the regional to the international level. Nationally, the center is well integrated into Austria’s oncology treatment landscape and also serves as a key center in Europe, particularly for Central and Eastern European countries, where proton centers are not yet available. Internationally, MedAustron is a vital partner for other particle therapy centers, collaborating on clinical studies and leading advancements in the field. This path will continue, offering patients hope, confidence, and support in the fight against cancer.