NOVO project

↩️ Let’s take a look back at NOVO beam tests in December 2025. Between 1 - 14 December 2025, we conducted the first beam tests of the NOVCoDA prototype at the clinical proton therapy facility, OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Dresden, Germany. This campaign marked an important milestone in evaluating the system under realistic experimental conditions and advancing its development. Post-analysis of the experimental dataset is currently ongoing, and results will be published upon completion. 📊 The experimental dataset is now available upon request via the Rossendorf Data Repository (RoDaRe): https://lnkd.in/e3w37sAK We sincerely thank all partners involved in this campaign, both on-site and remote, for their valuable contributions and collaboration: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #DeepLearning #MonteCarlo #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Asuman Kolbaşı from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. “My name is Asuman Kolbaşı, and I am a researcher at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences working on the NOVO project. I have a long-standing background in Medical Physics, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Boğaziçi University. Throughout my career, I have been drawn to the intersection of technology and healthcare, especially where radiation sciences, detector design, and imaging systems come together to solve meaningful problems. This curiosity has shaped every step of my professional path and continues to guide my work today. Within NOVO, I contribute to Work Package 2, focusing on spectroscopy and image reconstruction from prompt gamma data obtained through simulations and NOVCoDA experiments. My experience in radiation metrology, nuclear imaging technologies, modelling, and reconstruction algorithms allows me to explore how detectors respond to complex physical processes and how these responses can be translated into clinically useful information. Working on tools that may one day improve treatment accuracy in such a sensitive and impactful field is both challenging and deeply motivating. Before joining NOVO, I worked on preclinical and clinical nuclear imaging systems, modular detector design projects, and the development and accreditation of nuclear imaging research laboratories. This broad experience strengthened not only my technical expertise but also my appreciation for the dedication and collaboration required to turn a scientific idea into a real, functioning system. This background makes me value the collaborative spirit and shared purpose within NOVO even more. Being part of NOVO has become much more than simply contributing to a research project; it has been a space where I continuously challenge myself, learn, and grow as a scientist. Working in such an interdisciplinary environment pushes me to integrate new ideas, explore unfamiliar concepts, and expand the boundaries of what I thought I could do. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside inspiring colleagues from different backgrounds and to be part of a team that aims to advance proton therapy technologies for the future. Looking forward to everything we will achieve together.”   Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #DeepLearning #MonteCarlo #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Sander Blørstad Thu from the University of Bergen (UiB).   “My name is Sander Blørstad Thu, and I am a PhD student at the University of Bergen working on the NOVO project. I joined the project nearly a year ago and my academic background is in medical physics. Prior to this, I worked as a medical physicist in proton therapy at Oslo University Hospital. Within the NOVO project, I primarily contribute to Work Package 3, which focuses on radiation dose reconstruction in clinical settings. More specifically, I perform FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations of radiation therapy plans while including a model of the NOVO detector. These simulations aim to provide insights into the relationships between the proton beams delivered to patients and the prompt gammas and fast neutrons that are subsequently detected. Additionally, the results will help characterize the data that a real-life detector would encounter in a clinical scenario. I have always enjoyed problem-solving and physics, and radiation therapy has proven to be a great fit! The field is inherently multidisciplinary, combining physics, biology, technology, and oncology. This causes radiation therapy to constantly evolve with new discoveries and developments. Because the field is so complex and multidisciplinary, I also have the pleasure of cooperating with great colleagues and researchers. NOVO is an ambitious project with the potential to make a meaningful clinical impact on proton therapy patients. The opportunity to contribute to improving treatments for patients is by far the most exciting aspect of being part of the NOVO project. Other great aspects would be learning from knowledgeable colleagues, expanding my understanding of radiation therapy and medical physics, and developing myself as a researcher. My work contributes to advancing knowledge in prompt gamma imaging and fast neutron imaging in proton therapy. The NOVO project is the most obvious catalyst for my work to impact future cancer treatments and patient care, as it will improve treatments by allowing proton therapy treatments to spare healthy tissue without compromising treatment efficacy. Looking beyond the NOVO horizon, my work might also assist in research and developments of other prompt gamma imaging/fast neutron imaging devices.” Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester   #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #DeepLearning #MonteCarlo #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Uğur Demir from TÜBİTAK BİLGEM.   “Hello everyone. My name is Uğur, and I am the Lead Hardware Design Engineer at TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, currently working on the NOVO project. I hold a background in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, with a specialization in high-speed hardware design. Within the scope of the NOVO project, my primary responsibility is the development of a new Modular Digitizer Architecture and hardware platform based on the 3U OpenVPX standard. The system incorporates high-speed FPGA-to-FPGA communication links (GTH/GTX), 64-channel high-speed analog data acquisition, a fully dedicated synchronous clock distribution network, and 10 Gbps SFP+ connectivity. As a hardware design engineer, I am driven by the role that cutting-edge electronic architectures can play in optimizing data acquisition for proton radiotherapy. The NOVO project provides a unique multidisciplinary environment where high-speed digitization, deterministic synchronization, and complex signal processing converge with physics, mathematics, and clinical requirements. Contributing to this system enables me to deepen my expertise in high-performance hardware design while supporting NOVO’s primary objective of improving the accuracy, reliability, and measurement integrity of Proton Therapy systems.”   Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester   #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #DeepLearning #MonteCarlo #HardwareDesign #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions  

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Hunter Ratliff from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.   “I am Hunter Ratliff, and I am a Researcher at HVL on the NOVO project. I studied nuclear engineering at the University of Tennessee, where I also got my PhD performing experimental and simulation work relating to neutron production from cosmic rays bombarding spacecraft shielding (and related neutron detection). Afterward, I worked on the PHITS particle transport code team in Japan for 2.5 years, working on improving and modernizing the activation and decay code DCHAIN that is coupled to and distributed with PHITS. I then moved to Norway and began working on the NOVO project at HVL.   My role has largely involved leaning on my experience in radiation transport modelling in PHITS and with experimental neutron detection. At present, my focus has been on using PHITS to generate training and testing datasets for AI model development, seeking to greatly accelerate calculations of expected detector signals and particle production in a proton therapy treatment setting. While Monte Carlo calculations are the “gold standard” for accuracy in this context, they are far too time-consuming and computationally expensive to be viable in a real treatment workflow, and initial AI development work has shown promise in being able to reduce this expense by orders of magnitude. My role has also involved assisting with NOVO’s experimental measurement campaigns and data processing.   I really like the diversity of applications within the nuclear domain of expertise. I’ve worked in space radiation, activation and decay, and now medical physics. These have all been connected by a common thread of radiation transport modelling and neutron physics, but it is satisfying seeing how this knowledge can be applied in different ways. I was initially motivated to pursue an education in nuclear engineering from its promises of future generations of reactor technology providing abundant clean energy, but a strong interest in the more physics-focused side combined with my interest in space exploration since childhood steered me down the path I have ultimately taken. It is also quite enjoyable working in facets of nuclear science that are unambiguously accepted by society as good and worthy causes, as this also provides a sense of pride and purpose in the work.”   Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester   #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Anna Milde Bekkevoll from Haukeland universitetssjukehus.   “My name is Anna Milde Bekkevoll and I am a PhD student at the Cancer Clinic at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway. I have a masters in biophysics and medical technology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). I am currently one year into my PhD and I am very happy to be working on such an exciting project!   My role in the NOVO project is to study the NOVO concept in different clinical settings. In this way, we investigate how we need to adapt the concept to fit various clinical scenarios, and what modifications need to be made to be able to use the concept for many different diagnostic groups. I was motivated to pursue a career in medical physics and proton therapy research because I find the combination of physics and medicine to be very interesting, and the possibility of working on improving cancer treatment is highly rewarding. I find it really exciting that the NOVO project has the potential to improve the treatment of cancer patients. The project can enable adaptive proton therapy and reduce treatment margins, which can increase the tumor control and reduce normal tissue complications. It is also very interesting to work with so many people with different expertise. We really can learn a lot from each other. If we are able to optimize the concept for various clinical scenarios, we can extend the number of diagnoses that are commonly referred to proton therapy, and as such improve the treatment for many patients.”   Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester   #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #DeepLearning #MonteCarlo #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions  

With RAPTORplus, we’re taking the innovative concept of NOVO project to the next level! Our new research project under RAPTORplus focuses on the pre-clinical evaluations of a novel, prompt gamma-ray and fast neutron-based treatment verification system, and will be supervised by Ilker Meric from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Check out the RAPTOR Consortium’s post for a PhD opportunity with our collaboration! 📚 The candidate hired in this project will be enrolled in the PhD program in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks, and Engineering Computing at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences. As part of the project, the candidate is also expected to have a long secondment at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany), where the current prototype of NOVCoDA is located. #NOVOProject #RAPTORplus #ProtonTherapy #CancerResearch #HealthcareInnovation #AdaptiveTherapy #MedicalPhysics #ResearchAndDevelopment

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Sara Müller from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). “I’m a PhD candidate at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. My background is in experimental particle physics but already during my masters I developed an interest in medical physics which is why I decided to write my Master’s thesis in this area and to pursue a PhD in the field. My role in the project involves the development, characterization, and validation of the prototype detector system. I work hands-on with the detector at various stages, from conducting performance tests on individual components to running clinical-like experiments where we use real treatment plans on human-like targets. In addition to the experimental work, I’m also involved in analyzing the measurement data to evaluate detector performance and guide further development. Coming from a background in experimental particle physics, I’ve always enjoyed working with detectors. It’s fascinating that we can build instruments sensitive enough to “see” elementary particles. What really motivates me now is taking that same technology and applying it in a medical context, where it can directly benefit patients. Using the tools and techniques of particle physics to improve cancer treatment feels like a natural and meaningful extension of my skills. It’s exciting to work on something that not only involves interesting physics and hands-on detector work but also has a real-world impact. I think it’s fantastic how NOVO brings core physics concepts into real-world medical applications. I find it rewarding to see basic principles like a neutron scattering off our detector material used in a practical context to improve treatment accuracy. I especially like that I am involved in all stages of the process, from testing detectors to analyzing data and identifying potential deviations in treatment. It’s a meaningful way to apply my background in physics to help make cancer therapy safer and more effective. Proton therapy is already one of the most powerful tools we have to fight cancer and NOVO has the potential to make it even more effective and, importantly, safer by accurately detecting range deviations. Through my work, I’m contributing to identifying the optimal detector design and ensuring its performance meets the demands of clinical use. In doing so, I’m helping to lay the foundation for the project’s success and contributing to broader advances in treatment verification in proton therapy.” Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions

On behalf of the NOVO project, we wish you a bright start to the new year and a year full of innovation. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester

✨ We are proud to introduce the brilliant minds behind our research in the NOVO project. Today, we’re pleased to introduce Francesco Blangiardi from Fraunhofer ENAS. “Hello everyone! I’m Francesco, I am a PhD student at Fraunhofer ENAS and working in the NOVO project. My background is in Computer Science, and specifically AI. Within NOVO, my main task is to develop the AI algorithms enhancing the efficacy of our range verification system. This involves both the training of fast surrogate models of the forward model, learning how secondary radiations are generated within the patient and transported to the detector, and of image refinement techniques aimed at making the reconstructed NOVCoDA response even more accurate. As a computer scientist, I am very fascinated by the advantages that new technology can bring to people. Medical applications such as the one envisioned in NOVO are among the most impactful ways to do so, and are a perfect ground for me to grow both vertically on the ever-growing field of AI, as well as horizontally in the multiple disciplines NOVO entails. The things that excite me the most about working in this project are the inter-operation of physics, mathematics and medical knowledge in its design. I am very happy and grateful to be able to contribute to the integration of AI into such topics, and to the opportunity to work with so many experts from all these fields! I think the purpose of my work goes closely together with the overall goal of NOVO to make Proton Therapy safer and more effective for the patients. As an additional benefit, I hope that my contribution will also help to make such powerful treatment more accessible, by limiting the cost and computational requirements to create complex treatment plans using such complex pipelines.” Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology Boğaziçi University Fraunhofer ENAS University of Bergen (UiB) Target Systemelektronik Haukeland universitetssjukehus TÜBİTAK BİLGEM The University of Manchester   #ProtonTherapy #MedicalPhysics #RangeVerification #AdaptiveTherapy #DeepLearning #MonteCarlo #RadiationOncology #NOVOProject #Research #Innovation #EUfunded #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearcherIntroductions