Roundtable Discussion on Neutron Capture Therapy

Abstract

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure for me to introduce the outstanding panel that the Organizing Committee was able to recruit to give us a global perspective and critique and encouragement to proceed with boron neutron capture therapy. If the aim was to get the global perspective, how better to achieve it than to get the previous Chief of the Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Eli Glatstein, or Phil Rubin who has been the editor of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics for twenty years or more, and pioneers in the field of radiation therapy such as Rod Withers and Frank Ellis, who are experts in fields that relate to BNCT such as normal tissue tolerance and fractionation and, of course, George Laramore, who has very extensive experience in high LET radiation therapy. Before we start, however, I would like to briefly introduce the format. First, Frank Ellis would like to make a few comments from his very extensive experience in radiation therapy. Then, every member of the panel will present for approximately 15 minutes, after which we will allow one or two technical questions, if any clarifications relating to the talk are required. Then, at the end, the panel will be up in front again, and we will allow the discussion to continue with audience participation. It is now my pleasure to introduce Dr. Frank Ellis to give the introductory remarks.