Dynamic Spot-Scanning Proton Arc: A New Way to Plan Proton Therapy
Official title: Develop a novel multi-approach dynamic Spot Scanning Proton Arc optimization framework
Funded at William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst · NIH-11395295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A premier cancer research project to make proton therapy plans faster and more accurate for head and neck cancer patients using an innovative arc-based approach.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Royal Oak, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,670,553 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA301448-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are candidates for proton therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancer types not typically treated with SPArc or those unable to undergo proton therapy.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop a fast, multi-approach optimization framework for Spot-Scanning Proton Arc (SPArc) therapy to improve how we plan proton treatments. By enabling arc trajectories and smarter optimization, doctors could create highly precise plans that spare nearby healthy tissues. The work will address computational speed and delivery efficiency to make SPArc practical across different proton therapy machines. The study focuses on head and neck cancers where critical structures are close to the tumor.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective proton therapy with fewer side effects and shorter treatment times.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SPArc concepts showed promise, but practical clinical deployment requires improved optimization speed and universal delivery efficiency.
Where this research is happening
-
William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst
Royal Oak, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ding, Xuanfeng — William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst
- Study coordinator: Ding, Xuanfeng
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.