STELLA: Advancing Global Radiotherapy Access

In 2024, CERN and the International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC) started a pre-design study for a radiotherapy system. The Smart Technologies to Extend Lives with Linear Accelerators (STELLA) 18-month study is being carried out in collaboration with the UK universities of Cambridge, Lancaster and Oxford, in conjunction with a network of 28 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). STELLA aims to re-engineer medical linear accelerators (linacs) to function effectively in challenging environments, such as those found in LMICs. This involves developing robust, cost-effective, and user-friendly systems that can withstand infrastructural limitations such as inconsistent power supplies and limited maintenance capabilities. If successful, STELLA will help facilitate radiotherapy delivery in conditions where traditional systems would be less able to function.

CERN technologies can help with simplifying design elements to facilitate local maintenance, reducing dependency on specialised personnel, and ensuring compatibility with variable power conditions. Such innovations are poised to democratise access to high-quality cancer care, enabling a broader patient population to benefit from effective radiotherapy treatments.

The socio-economic benefits of these efforts are substantial. Improved access to radiotherapy can lead to higher survival rates and a better quality of life for cancer patients, thereby reducing the economic burden associated with advanced disease stages. Moreover, the development and deployment of locally adaptable radiotherapy technologies can stimulate economic growth by fostering local expertise, creating jobs in healthcare and technical sectors, and reducing healthcare disparities.

Projects like STELLA exemplify a strategic approach to addressing healthcare inequities. By leveraging advanced scientific expertise and fostering international collaboration, these initiatives hold the promise of transforming cancer care in LMICs, delivering both health improvements and socio-economic gains.