Come along to R22 Pickavance Lecture Theatre or join online to hear from Professor Yolanda Prezado and Professor Ken Long on the subject of The LhARA Iniative.

Date: Thursday 21st May 2026

Time: 14:00 – 15:30

There will be coffee/tea served in R22 Coffee Lounge at 15:30. All welcome.

Campus members with RAL site passes wishing to attend in person, please go straight to Pickavance Lecture Theatre.

Campus members without RAL site passes and non-campus members wishing to attend, please use the Zoom link to attend the talk remotely.

The scientific motivation for the LhARA initiative will be presented together with the programme of technological innovation by which the collaboration seeks to:

• Transform the delivery of proton and ion-beam therapy by harnessing the unique properties of laser-driven proton and ion-beams;
• Exploit the unique temporal, spatial, and spectral properties of laser-driven beams to explore uncharted territory in the vast terra incognita of the response of tissues to ionising radiation; and thereby lay the foundations for
• ‘Best in class’ treatments to be made available to the many by developing a fully-automated system that removes the requirement for a large gantry, thereby reducing footprint and increasing capacity and throughput.

Successful delivery of the initiative will deliver transformative capabilities for the exploration science as well as societal and industrial impact.