Philips invites Institute of Cancer Research to join MRI research consortium

Philips has announced that London's Institute of Cancer Research has joined the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research consortium it has formed with life science company Elekta.

Working with its clinical partner the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the world-leading cancer research institution will join the Elekta MR Linac Research Consortium, which has a mission to develop an integrated MRI-guided radiation therapy system.

It is the sixth member to join the research consortium, with existing participants including the University Medical Center Utrecht, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center.

The novel technology they are assessing brings together state-of-the-art radiation therapy and MRI in a single system. It could represent a major advance in the treatment of cancer.

Gene Saragnese, chief executive officer of imaging systems at Philips Healthcare, said: "We are convinced that the deep clinical knowledge and expertise of the Institute of Cancer Research will be a strong asset to the growing research consortium."

Earlier this year, the company Philips announced that it will be teaming with the African Medical and Research Foundation on a long-term partnership to improve healthcare standards in Africa.