Cancer treatment: Quantum Technology to revolutionize medical imaging, radiotherapy

WOLLONGONG, NEW SOUTH WALES: The University of Wollongong (UOW) is leading a groundbreaking initiative poised to transform cancer care globally. The LANTERN project, spearheaded by Honorary Fellow Dr. Saree Alnaghy from UOW’s School of Physics, has secured $350,203 in funding under the Australian Government’s Critical Technologies Challenge Program. This innovative endeavor is set to redefine medical imaging and radiotherapy through advanced quantum technology.
Leveraging cutting-edge quantum photon-counting detectors, the LANTERN project promises unprecedented imaging accuracy, enabling clinicians to pinpoint and treat tumors with precision. This advancement is particularly significant for complex cases like brain tumors, where existing imaging methods fall short.
“Cancer patients, regardless of their location or resources, deserve the highest standard of care,” Dr. Alnaghy stated. “LANTERN is about democratizing access to advanced imaging and treatment while enhancing outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.”
Current radiotherapy systems rely on imaging tools that struggle to differentiate between tumors and surrounding healthy tissue, limiting their effectiveness. In contrast, LANTERN provides a cost-efficient solution that integrates seamlessly into existing radiotherapy machines, bypassing the steep costs associated with advanced systems like MRI-linac machines, which are scarce in Australia.
The project targets two critical challenges:
Expanding access to high-quality imaging for patients in rural and regional areas.
Offering real-time adaptive imaging to accommodate changes in a patient’s anatomy during treatment.
By improving tumor targeting and reducing side effects, LANTERN could significantly enhance the quality of life for cancer patients.
Dr. Alnaghy highlighted the project's alignment with Australia's National Quantum Strategy, calling it a milestone in medical innovation. “Our quantum photon-counting detectors place UOW at the forefront of global medical technology,” he remarked.
The team’s prototype system has already achieved a fourfold improvement in imaging quality compared to traditional technologies. The newly secured funding will support the refinement and integration of this system into clinical workflows.
Industry collaborations with Siemens Healthineers and ADVACAM, the global leader in photon-counting detector technology, further bolster LANTERN’s potential. These partnerships ensure rigorous testing and pave the way for commercial adoption, offering life-saving benefits to radiotherapy centres and hospitals worldwide.
As the world embraces quantum innovation, LANTERN underscores its transformative potential in healthcare, heralding a new era of precision, accessibility, and affordability in cancer treatment.