Amid the tide of globalization, international cooperation has become a key driving force for advancing scientific and technological innovation as well as technological development. Recently, a group of experts from the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics, the University of Pavia, and the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission visited the Xiamen Humanity BNCT Clinical Demonstration Center for study and exchange. They also attended the International BNCT Innovation Seminar held at the center.
The seminar marked a significant reunion for the Chinese and Italian research teams following their successful collaboration on the NSFC International Cooperation and Exchange Project. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions covering thematic research in the BNCT field, center development, technology introduction, and scientific collaboration.
Against the backdrop of the growing global demand for BNCT facility development, this exchange not only deepened mutual understanding and cooperation but also facilitated the global dissemination of China's leading BNCT technology solutions and center operational expertise. Such efforts are poised to accelerate the implementation of BNCT projects overseas, ultimately benefiting more cancer patients worldwide.
On behalf of the Chinese side, President Ying Min'gang of Xiamen Humanity Hospital, Professor Tang Xiaobin from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Professor Liu Yuanhao from Neuboron extended a warm welcome to the experts from Italy and Argentina. They expressed the expectation that through this exchange, the Chinese and Italian research teams would learn from each other's strengths and achieve mutual learning.
As the representative of the foreign side, Professor Valerio Vercesi from the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics thanked the Chinese team for their warm reception. He highly praised China's outstanding achievements in the field of BNCT and looked forward to further deepening cooperation between the two sides in the future to jointly promote the innovative development of BNCT.
In recent years, China's BNCT has developed rapidly and successfully entered the "global first echelon" in terms of clinical advancement. Professor Pan Jianji from Xiamen Humanity Hospital gave a detailed introduction to the preliminary results of China's first accelerator-based BNCT human clinical study (IIT-001). He also shared the enrollment and preparation progress of IIT-002 (recruitment indication: recurrent head and neck malignant tumors/primary brain malignant tumors), IND-Ⅰ (recruitment indication: recurrent head and neck malignant tumors), and IIT-03 (recruitment indication: advanced extra-abdominal solid tumors).
From the existing human clinical research data of the Xiamen BNCT Center, BNCT has shown remarkable therapeutic effects and high safety in the treatment of recurrent head and neck tumors and malignant brain tumors, demonstrating great therapeutic potential and prospects.
Radiobiology is the foundation of BNCT clinical application. Professor Geng Changran from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics discussed the biological effect evaluation and optimization path of BNCT therapy from the perspective of biophysical models. His research results provide strong support for the precise treatment of BNCT.
Dr. Shu Diyun from Neuboron focused on key technical links such as neutron beam optimization and characterization, and shared the latest breakthroughs and future plans of Neuboron in this field.
Professor Valerio Vercesi from the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics shared Italy's research progress in the field of BNCT, including the optimized design of neutron beam shaping assembly (BSA), the improvement of moderator materials, and the photon equivalent dose model for GBM.
In addition, the participation of Professor Sara González from the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission brought new perspectives and inspirations to the seminar. Professor Sara González highly praised the research results of the Chinese and Italian teams, noting that the joint research conducted by the two teams is accelerating the application of BNCT in clinical practice.
Argentina is one of the earliest countries in the world to carry out BNCT technology and clinical research. It has completed the clinical trial treatment of multiple malignant melanoma patients using reactor neutron sources and achieved significant therapeutic results. Professor Sara González expressed the expectation to cooperate with Chinese and Italian teams in the future to accelerate the construction of a new generation of accelerator-based BNCT facilities and clinical research.
After the exchange activity, the foreign experts conducted an on-site inspection of the center and the patient treatment process. They spoke highly of the construction experience of the Xiamen BNCT Center and the hardware and software technologies of Neuboron. They expressed the hope to introduce the construction experience of the Xiamen BNCT Center and the mature one-stop BNCT solution of Neuboron into their own countries, so as to promote the construction of local BNCT centers and clinical development and benefit more cancer patients.
