National Translational Research Facility for Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) at UW–Madison
Official title: BRF: National Translational Research Facility for Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT)
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11523265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national facility is being built at UW–Madison to advance neutron capture therapy for cancer, bringing together chemistry, imaging, and neutron treatment under one roof.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $7,986,374 |
| NIH project number | 1C06OD042702-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11523265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancers that might be treated by neutron capture therapy and eligible for future translational or early-phase clinical studies at the facility.
✕Less likely to help
This facility focuses on infrastructure and early research; not all cancer patients will directly benefit during the grant period.
What this research studies
This project aims to create the first accelerator-based NCT translational research facility in the United States, integrating radiochemistry, biology, imaging, and neutron irradiation. It will provide modern preclinical and early-phase clinical testing capabilities to accelerate development of neutron-activated agents. Located at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, the center is designed to streamline collaboration and speed translation from lab discoveries to patient trials. The effort seeks to make US-based NCT research more competitive and capable of delivering targeted, tissue-sparing cancer treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain access to faster development and testing of targeted neutron capture therapies with potential for better tumor control and fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Neutron capture therapy has shown promising results internationally, and this initiative aims to establish a US-based translational platform to advance those advances domestically.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahuja, Nita — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Ahuja, Nita
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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.