Scientific Programme
Three days. A world of expertise. One historic gathering.
Here’s what the
PTCOG-AO 2026 programme looks like.
Day 1 – Friday, 4 September 2026
Educational Day
| Timings |
Event |
| 08:00–09:00 |
Registration & Welcome Coffee |
| 09:00–10:30 |
Session 1 (Education) - Hall AParticle Therapy Physics:
Fundamentals to Clinical Implementation
Moderators: · Format: 25 min + 5 min each
Physics of Charged Particle TherapySpeaker: Hsiao-Ming Lu
Clinical Commissioning of Particle Therapy Systems:
Principles, Challenges, and Best PracticesSpeaker: Sung Yong
Park
Managing Uncertainties in Particle Therapy: Challenges,
Strategies, and Clinical ImplicationsSpeaker: Young-Yih
Han
|
| 10:30–11:00 |
Coffee Break |
| 11:00–12:00 |
Session 2 (Education) - Hall ARadiobiological
Optimization in Particle Therapy
Moderators: TBD · Format: 13 min + 2 min each
DNA Damage Complexity and Repair Following High-LET
RadiationSpeaker: Takahashi Akihisa (GUNMA University)
(TBC)
Clinical Implications of LET and Variable RBE in Proton
and Carbon Ion TherapySpeaker: Napapat
Amornwichet
LET-Guided and Biology-Driven Optimization in Particle
Therapy: Methods and Quantitative Evaluation FrameworksSpeaker:
Taku Inaniwa
Carbon Ion Radiotherapy: Present Practice, Future
PrecisionSpeaker: Eugen Hug
|
| 12:00–13:00 |
Session 3 - Hall ASetting the Stage: Main Conference
Begins
What should be the focus of future research in Particle
Therapy?
Moderators: Hsiao-Ming Lu / Eugen Hug · Format: 12 min each + 12 min wrap-up
1. Footprint and delivery systemsSpeaker: Rock Mackie
2. Workflow Automation, Adaptation and AI/ML
IntegrationSpeaker: Francesca Albertini
3. Understanding the biology of tumour, microenvironment
& of particlesSpeaker: Marco Durante
4. Generating evidence for Particle Therapy - Smarter
TrialsSpeaker: Siddhartha Laskar
Concluding Remarks / Q&A Session (12
minutes)
|
| 13:00–14:00 |
Lunch |
| 14:00–15:30 |
Session 4A - Hall AMasterclass: Range
Uncertainties
Moderators: TBD · Format: 22 min = 18 + 4
Reducing Range Uncertainty: Emerging imaging
modalities and Strategies in SPR Calibration (DECT, Synthetic CT, Synthetic MRI)Faculty: Tsi-Chian Chao
Managing Non-Biological High-Density Materials in
Particle Therapy: Challenges and SolutionsFaculty: Donhgho
Shin
Motion and Interplay Management (4D planning,
repainting, gating, tracking, adaptive strategies)Faculty:
Naoki Miyamoto
In-vivo range verification (PET, prompt gamma,
ionoacoustics)Faculty: Taeko Matsuura
Session 4B - Hall BMasterclass: Hypofractionation in
Particle Therapy - Breast
Moderators: TBD
Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer: An opportunity for
recalibration of organ-at-risk goals (20 min)Speaker: Qing
Zhang
Hypofractionated proton therapy for breast cancer:
Identifying patients who benefit the most (20 min)Speaker:
Amy Chang
Panel discussion: Addressing specific challenges in
PBT for breast cancer (45 min)Moderator: Dr Nagarjuna
Burela
Participants: Amy Chang, Qing Zhang, George Chiu, Sapna Nangia, Tabassum
Wadasadawala
|
| 15:30–16:00 |
Coffee Break & Networking |
| 16:00–18:00 |
Session 5A - Hall AMasterclass: Evolving QA Paradigms
and Workflow Efficiency
Moderators: TBD
Evolving machine QA Paradigms in Proton and Carbon
Ion Therapy systemsFaculty: Wen Chien Hsi (20 min =
15 + 5)
Evolving PSQA Paradigms for Proton and Carbon Ion
TherapyFaculty: Ganapathy K (20 min = 15 +
5)
QA strategies for online and offline adaptive proton
therapyFaculty: Tan Hong Qi (20 min = 15 +
5)
Educational Debate: Machine and PSQA
Measurement-Based vs. Log-File and ML-Driven PSQA in IMPT/IMCT - Are We Ready to Go Fully
Digital?Faculty: all the above speakers + 2 more
Moderator:
Tony Wong (30 min = 25 + 5)
Session 5B - Hall BMasterclass: Hypofractionation in
Particle Therapy - Prostate
Moderators: TBD
Summary of clinical evidence on Proton therapy for
prostate cancerFaculty: Arun Goel (20 + 5
min)
Hypofractionation in Prostate cancers: Few
fractions, bigger impact - Indian ExperienceFaculty:
Srinivas Chilukuri (20 + 5 min)
Protons for Prostate Cancer: Where do we go from
here?Faculty: Vedang Murthy (20 + 5 min)
Discussion: 15 min
|
| 18:00–20:30 |
Welcome Reception |
Programme details are subject to change.
Scientific Programme
Three days. A world of expertise. One historic gathering.
Here’s what the
PTCOG-AO 2026 programme looks like.
Day 2 – Saturday, 5 September 2026
Scientific Session Day - Main Conference
| Timings |
Event |
| 06:00–07:30 |
Sunrise Yoga by the Beach |
| Session 6: Physics (Hall A) · Clinical (Hall B) · Oral Presentations (Hall C) |
| 08:30–09:45 |
Session 6A - Hall AAdvancement in Treatment Planning
and Optimization
Format: 18 min = 15 + 3
Spatially Fractionated Proton Therapy: Planning and
Evaluation FrameworksFaculty: Alonso
Gutirrez
Advances in Proton Arc Therapy: Physics,
Optimization, and Clinical PotentialFaculty: Ding X
(USA) (TBC)
4D and Motion-Robust Planning Strategies for Scanned
Charged Particle TherapyFaculty: Seishin
Takao
Proton Radiosurgery: Current Status, Clinical
Applications, and Future DirectionsFaculty: TBD
Session 6B - Hall BThoracic & GI
Malignancies
Format: 18 min = 15 + 3
Proton Therapy for NSCLC in the Era of Immunotherapy
(15 min + 3)Speaker: TBD
Proton Therapy role in esophageal cancer: Rethinking
definitive vs neoadjuvant strategies across tumour location and length (15 min + 3)Speaker: Ji Zhu
Proton SBRT for HCC: Can Fewer Fractions Make More
Sense? (15 min + 3)Speaker: Kanokphorn
Thonglert
Beyond Esophagus & Liver: New-age (or emerging)
Indications for Proton Therapy in GI Malignancies (15 min + 3)Speaker: Ashu Abhishek
|
| 08:30–09:45 |
Session 6C - Hall COral Presentations (Physics)
Moderators: TBD · Judges: TBD
5 competitive oral presentations and 5 competitive
mini-oral presentations (60 min)Oral: 8 + 2 min · Mini-oral: 4 + 1 min
· Q&A: 15 min
|
| 09:45–10:05 |
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Poster Sessions
Session 6D Poster Session: Physics
|
| 10:05–11:20 |
Plenary Session 1: Keynote Lecture - Hall A
Moderators: Vijayanand Reddy · Format: 15 min + 5 min
Topic: TBDKeynote: Thomas Rock Mackie
The Global Particle Therapy Landscape in 2036: What Will
It Look Like?Keynote: Anita Mahajan
Debate (10 + 10 min, 15 min discussion)What would change the lives of patients with head-neck cancers in the next
decade?
Adaptive Radiotherapy (8 min + 2)Speaker: A K Anand (TBC)
IMPT (8 min + 2)Speaker:
Nancy Lee
Discussion: 10 min
|
| 11:25–11:55 |
Opening Ceremony - Hall A
Welcome Addresses• PTCOG-AO
President
• Local Organizing Chairs
Conference Overview & LogisticsOrganising team
|
| 12:00–13:00 |
6th Dr. Prathap C Reddy Annual Proton Oration - Hall A
Chairs: Tsatsuya Ohno, Dayananda Sharma
Introducing the Orator: Rakesh Jalali
Orator: Marco
DuranteTitle: TBD
Felicitation ceremony
|
| 13:00–14:00 |
Lunch |
| Session 7: Physics (Hall A) · Clinical (Hall B) · Oral Presentations (Hall C) |
| 14:00–15:30 |
Session 7A - Hall AMotion Management in Particle
Therapy
Format: 20 min = 15 + 5 min
Motion Monitoring Devices and Clinical Integration:
Which is most appropriate?Faculty: TBD
AI and Predictive Motion Management for Scanned
Charged Particle TherapyFaculty: Xiance Jin
QA, Safety, and Clinical Translation (End-to-end
testing, workflow integration)Faculty: TBD
Adaptive Strategies for Moving TargetsFaculty: Kimi Yang
Session 7B - Hall BHead-Neck Cancers
Moderators: JP Agarwal · Format: 20 min = 15 + 5 min
Particle Therapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma:
Reducing Toxicity Without Compromising CureSpeaker: Lin
Kong
Proton Therapy in Oropharyngeal Cancer: Balancing
Cure, Function and SurvivorshipSpeaker: Nancy
Lee
Proton Therapy for Oral Cavity Cancers: Optimising
Treatment for Complex Anatomy, Large Volumes and FunctionSpeaker:
Sapna Nangia
Re-irradiation in Head-Neck Cancers: Expanding the
Therapeutic Window with Proton TherapySpeaker: Sarbani
Laskar
|
| 14:00–15:30 |
Parallel Session 7C - Hall COral Presentations - Clinical
& Biology
Moderators: TBD · Judges: TBD
6 competitive oral presentations and 6 competitive
mini-oral presentations (72 min)Oral: 8 min · Mini-oral: 4 min ·
Q&A: 18 min
|
| 15:30–16:00 |
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Poster Sessions
Session 7D: Poster Session
(Clinical) |
| 16:00–17:50 |
Plenary Session 2: Global Perspectives & Evidence - Hall A
Moderators: Michael Wang, Simon Tang, TBD
Quick Updates in Particle Therapy world - What, when,
where and how? (12 min each)
1. Adaptive particle therapy - what’s next?Speaker: Francesca Albertini
2. Flash Therapy - where is it going?Speaker: Yih Han (TBC)
3. Biological modelling in particle therapy - how do we
crack it?Speaker: Erik Traneus
4. Upright particle therapy: Current statusSpeaker: Nick Shroeder
Q&A: 12 min
Keynote LectureModerators:
Tejinder Kataria
Health Economics of Particle Therapy: Value-Based
Perspectives (15 min + 5)Speaker: Morten Hoyer
Panel Discussion: Shaping the future of particle therapy
through industry-academia collaboration (25 min)Moderator: Rakesh Jalali
(30 min)
Panelists: TBD (Representatives from different regions /
income settings)
|
| 17:50–18:30 |
IBA SymposiumPioneering Innovations in Proton
Therapy
Proton FLASH: From Physical Principles to Clinical Translation
(12 min + 3)Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Free & Dr. Makbule Atasoylu
ProtonARC: From Technical Innovation to Clinical Implementation
(12 min + 3)Speaker:
Dr. Jeffrey Free & Dr. Makbule Atasoylu
Discussion: 10 min
|
| 19:00–22:00 |
Conference Gala Dinner (By Invitation)
Musical Concert and Dinner · Location: New Beach
Lawn |
Programme details are subject to change.
Scientific Programme
Three days. A world of expertise. One historic gathering.
Here’s what the
PTCOG-AO 2026 programme looks like.
Day 3 – Sunday, 6 September 2026
Advanced Topics & Closing Session
| Timings |
Event |
| 05:45–08:00 |
Heritage Tour of Mahabalipuram |
| 09:00–09:15 |
Registration & Morning Coffee |
| Session 8: Physics (Hall A) · Clinical (Hall B) · Oral Presentations (Hall C) |
| 09:15–10:30 |
Session 8A - Hall APTCOG-AO Survey Results and New
Centre Symposium
Moderators: TBD
PTCOG-AO Physics Survey ResultsSpeaker: Chankyu Kim (10 + 2 minutes)
PTCOG-AO Oncology Survey Results - Results (10 + 2
min)Speaker: Jooyoung Kim
New Centre SymposiumEach
presentation: 10 + 2 minutes
Each presenter to coverWhy proton? · Equipment selection · Shielding design · Regulatory requirements ·
Commissioning experience · Patient selection criteria · Escalation strategy and unique
techniques
Speakers / Sites1. Kazak
NROC – Proton (Confirmed)
Alua KanatKyzy
2. Lynn Cancer Centre,
BocaRaton, USA (Confirmed)
Suresh Rana
3. National Cancer Centre,
Korea (Likely to be confirmed)
4. Xi’an Proton Therapy Centre, China
5. Zhejiang
Carbon Ion Centre, China
6. Shenzhen (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
7. Heyou
Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Shunde, China
8. Egypt
Session 8B - Hall BPaediatric & CNS
Tumours
Moderators: Tanweer Shahid, Vinay Ural
Proton Therapy in Neuro-Oncology: Designing the Next
Generation of Clinical Trials (15 min)Speaker: Tejpal
Gupta
Proton Craniospinal Irradiation: Indications,
technique & Evidence (15 min)Speaker: Uday
Krishna
Proton Therapy in Pediatric Extracranial Tumors:
Current Evidence and Future Directions (15 min)Speaker:
Anita Mahajan
Discussion: 15 min
|
| 09:15–10:30 |
Session 8C - Hall COral Presentations
Moderators: TBD · Judges: TBD
5 competitive oral presentations and 5 competitive
mini-oral presentations (60 min)Oral: 8 min · Mini-oral: 4 min ·
Q&A: 15 min
|
| 10:30–11:00 |
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Poster Sessions
Session 8D: Poster Presentation
|
| 11:00–11:30 |
Session 9 - Hall ADebate
Discussion: 10 min
|
| 11:30–12:30 |
Closing & Awards Ceremony - Hall A
Awards Ceremony• Best Oral,
mini-oral, and poster awards (Physics, Biology and Clinical)
Conference Summary & Reflections (10
min)Scientific Committee Chair
Announcement of PTCOG-AO 2027 (10 min)Next host centre presentation
Closing Remarks (10 min)PTCOG-AO President
|
| Conference Ends |
Thank you for your participation! |
Programme details are subject to change.
