From particle physics to medicine

As part of the celebrations for CERN’s 70th anniversary, this event offered a unique opportunity to explore the various applications of particle physics instruments and tools in hospitals and medical research. Medical doctors, biologists and physicists guided the public on a captivating journey, providing insights into the future of therapy and imaging. 

The event covered three areas in which particle physics is contributing to the development of new medical technologies: 

Accelerators to treat cancer
From radiotherapy for cancer treatment to radiopharmaceuticals: tens of thousands of particle accelerators are used in medicine. New therapies have been made possible by the innovative technologies developed for frontier instruments, like the Large Hadron Collider.

Looking inside the human body
Since the discovery of X-rays, medical imaging and physics have advanced hand in hand. Sophisticated particle detectors, which are at the heart of modern imaging devices, enable doctors to provide early and accurate diagnosis of many diseases.

The digital health revolution 
Machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies play a crucial role in particle physics, which is rapidly embracing these tools to advance research. Collaborations with medical doctors, epidemiologists and researchers are leading to game-changing developments that help to preserve or improve our health.

The event brought together renowned specialists and was introduced by Mike Lamont, CERN Director for Accelerators and Technology, and moderated by Professor Antoine Geissbuhler, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Director of Teaching and Research and Head of the Division of e-Health and Telemedicine, HUG.

Highlights

Event recording


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