Title: The past and future of International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy.
What are the challenges for us?
With great joy, we would like to invite you to the Fourth BNCT International Webinar. The speaker will be Prof. Dr. Akira Matsumura, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Neurosurgery in the University of Tsukuba, President at Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences and President of the ISNCT.
The webinar will be held virtually (zoom platform), on Friday 4th October at 10 UTC. It will be a 45-minute webinar: 30 minutes exposition + 15 minutes discussion. We will have to stick to the time because participants will be from all over the world!
Title: The past and future of International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy. What are the challenges for us?
Name: Akira Matsumura
Title: Professor, Researcher and Neurosurgeon
Abstract:
The International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy (ISNCT) established its steering committee in 2018 to enable ongoing and consistent activities. Before this, ISNCT’s conference chairs served as society presidents for two-year terms, but inter-conference activities were relatively inactive. Under the leadership of the previous administration, headed by past president Prof. Porras, vice president Prof. Matsumura, secretary general Prof. Bortolussi, and other executive board members, regular EB meetings were held, and several key initiatives were launched, including the CTF, which aimed to enhance public relations and strengthen ties with the IAEA.
The development of accelerator-based BNCT, along with its inclusion as an insurance-covered treatment, marked a significant paradigm shift. For BNCT to continue advancing, it is vital for the society to stay united and foster further growth. This presentation will outline the society’s evolution and discuss its future directions.
Biosketch:
Dr. Matsumura graduated from the University of Tsukuba (UT) in 1980. He underwent clinical and academic training in Neurosurgery at UT Hospital, Universität Gӧttingen, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, and the Max-Planck Institute in Gӧttingen. In 2004, he became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at UT. From 2014 to 2018, he served as the Director of UT Hospital, and from 2020 to 2024, he was President of Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences.
Regarding BNCT, he initiated BNCT research in 1992 at Tokai (Japan Atomic Research Agency) using JRR-2 and JRR-4. He conducted the first Epithermal beam BNCT at Tokai and collaborated with Prof. Kumada on developing a treatment planning system for BNCT. Dr. Matsumura has led the BNCT accelerator project (iBNCT) at Tsukuba and a clinical trial of BNCT for newly diagnosed Glioblastoma has started in 2024.
He served as an Executive Committee member of the International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy (ISNCT) from 2010 to 2018, Vice President from 2018 to 2024, and became President in 2024.