ACORRN was originally established in 2005 in response to the sharp decline over the previous decade in the number of clinical cancer academics and radiation biologists in the UK. This left UK radiotherapy research communities with insufficient critical mass at a time when radiotherapy had seen one of the most rapid advances in technology and computing in any field of medicine.

Fifty percent of cancer patients receive radiotherapy at some time during their treatment; radiotherapy is used in 40% of patients who are eventually cured of their cancer. The 2007 National Radiotherapy Advisory Group report estimated that demand for radiotherapy will increase by 91% from 2007 to 2016.

Radiotherapy is an important curative modality and there have been many recent advances in radiotherapy technology, radiation-drug combination therapies and biological understanding of tumour and normal tissue response to radiation. If fully exploited, such advances could increase cure rates and decrease side effects, having a significant impact on patient health, quality of life and patient participation in society.

Despite the importance of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, it is estimated that only 6% of the total funds provided for cancer research in the UK are spent on radiotherapy research and development. This is due in large part because radiotherapy research provides greater health than commercial benefits, giving less incentive for commercial and other funders to support it. While ACORRN and other organisations have achieved a great deal over the last 5 years, much still remains to be done to develop and support radiotherapy research, particularly in today’s economic climate.

The establishment of ACORRN - Action Radiotherapy as a charity provides the opportunity for a step change in radiotherapy research funding in the UK. As the only UK charity dedicated solely to radiotherapy research, ACORRN’s priority will be developing a portfolio of funding opportunities for researchers and allied professions to support high quality radiotherapy and radiobiology research, in partnership with radiotherapy research and other stakeholder organisations.

ACORRN receives no government or other funding and its activities are entirely dependent on charitable donations. For more information on ACORRN’s fundraising programmes and how to help raise funds for radiotherapy research, please visit our Charity section.