Research and clinical trials
Our research into finding new applications for proton therapy to treat cancer continues
Proton therapy research association
The medical community continues to conduct proton therapy research studies. Leading cancer treatment institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the MD Anderson Cancer Center and John Hopkins form a research association that our Proton Therapy Unit also belongs to, with multiple prospective clinical trials underway to help find improvements in cancer treatment using this therapy.
Given the academic nature of the Universidad de Navarra Hospital, research is one of our strategic pillars. We take part in clinical trials and generate clinical and translational research projects in conjunction with the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA).
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Proton therapy research projects
The Proton Therapy Unit is currently running a number of research projects. They all share the same goal: to provide a more precise, effective and safer treatment for every patient.
European Projects
Official name: Right-time Adaptive Particle Therapy of Cancer — RAPTOR Plus
It combines advanced radiobiological models of cellular response with medical imaging and radiomics to predict how each patient will respond to proton therapy and adapt the treatment accordingly, maximising its benefit. It is part of a consortium of 34 partners, including leading European research and treatment centres and companies in the sector. It includes a full-time doctoral researcher.
| Funding European Commission Marie Skłodowska-Curie International Training Network (MSCA ITN) |
Duration 2026 – 2029 |
| Principal investigators Juan Diego Azcona · Javier Burguete |
Consortium 34 European partners |
Official name: Metrological framework for the practical use of luminescence thermometry in healthcare — LUMETH
It is developing a nanoparticle-based temperature measurement system for use in cellular systems. It can measure properties of the cell after exposure to radiation, helping to explain the processes triggered within it and to better understand the effectiveness of proton therapy and its synergy with other biological processes. A European consortium has been formed with hospitals, metrology centres and research centres.
| Funding European Commission EURAMET |
Duration 2026 – 2029 |
| Researchers Jesús García-Ovejero · Ana García Sanz · Juan Diego Azcona |
Consortium European hospitals, metrology centres and research centres |
National projects
Official name: Determination of the temporal structure and spatial microdosimetric distribution of actively scanned proton beams and their influence on the biological efficacy of proton therapy
It studies the structure of the ionisations produced by therapeutic proton beams at the micro- and nanometre scale, as well as the temporal structure of the beam, in order to understand and quantify more accurately how healthy tissue responds to proton therapy. It relies on Monte Carlo simulations and includes a full-time doctoral researcher.
| Funding Spanish State Research Agency · Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Generación del Conocimiento 2024 · Ref. PID2024-162860OB-I00 |
Duration 2025 – 2028 |
| Principal investigator Juan Diego Azcona |
Official name: Competition between time scales in biologically relevant flows (application to blood irradiation)
It is developing tools to quantify the dose absorbed in the fluids circulating through the body. This is useful for assessing biological damage in the blood and its impact on treatment response and on patients' quality of life after radiotherapy, both conventional and proton therapy. It includes a full-time doctoral researcher.
| Funding Spanish State Research Agency · Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Generación del Conocimiento 2023 · Ref. PID2023-148853OB-I00 |
Duration 2024 – 2027 |
| Principal investigator Javier Burguete |
Official name: Assessment of neutron dose at a proton therapy facility: implications for paediatric patients and staff
It assesses the neutron dose received during proton therapy treatments by paediatric patients and by the staff operating the unit, with the aim of improving safety for both.
| Funding Carlos III Health Institute · Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Ref. PI23/00157 |
Duration 2023 – 2027 |
| Principal investigator Josep Martí |
Official name: Metrological capability of neutron dosimetry equipment in proton therapy facilities
It assesses the operating conditions of various neutron detectors in therapeutic proton beams, to ensure that the measurements underpinning treatment are reliable.
| Funding Nuclear Safety Council Ref. SUBV-5-2024 |
Duration 2024 – 2027 |
| Principal investigator Josep Martí |
National collaborative projects
Official name: Towards improving the therapeutic index of proton therapy for the treatment of medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a brain tumour that is common in childhood.
| Funding Spanish Association Against Cancer |
Duration 2025 – 2028 |
| Principal investigator Yolanda Prezado |
Official name: Innovative proton therapy for the treatment of poor-prognosis cancers
| Funding Spanish State Research Agency · Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Generación del Conocimiento 2024 · Ref. PID2024-155901OB-I00 |
Duration 2025 – 2029 |
| Principal investigator Yolanda Prezado |
Official name: Development of a dose–effect calibration curve for protons, its validation in radiotherapy patients and updating of the neutron curve
| Funding Nuclear Safety Council Ref. SUBV-3-2024 |
Duration 2024 – 2027 |
| Principal investigator María Jesús Prieto |
Official name: Monte Carlo simulations for accurate dose calculations and clinical studies of biological damage in proton therapy
| Funding Spanish State Research Agency · Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Generación del Conocimiento 2021 · Ref. POD2021-104558RB-I00 |
Duration 2022 – 2026 |
| Principal investigator Pedro Arce |