LhARA Executive Board 22Jul26; 16:00 BST

Present: KL, TG, CJ, BB, AG, RA, HO, CW, PP, JPar

Actions

• PP: Find out treatment/planning/decommissioning status of Rutherford cylcotron at Newport.
• RA: Enquire of IBA what status is and how hard it might be to recommission.

Notes

1. Notes and actions: All
   

2. Targets for proposals, discussion:
   • IAA:
     • Impact analysis, benefits map as input to business case (? via UKRI IAA at Imperial)
     • Bio-programme development (? via IAA at Strathclyde)
     • Need to consider support for D.Laird comms.
   • STFC SPARK (25Aug26):
     • RS SSE on tour, our regional outreach, D.Laird comms, schools outreach
   • STFC PPRP (27Aug26):
     • "Talk to programme manager before submitting", conversation worthwhile, long shot?
   • STFC/EPSRC KTP (no closing date):
     • Worth discussing; discuss with LCC?
   • EPSRC Collaborate with researchers in Norway (no closing date):
     • Plasma lens; discuss after 11Sep26 meeting?
   • EPSRC Programme grant; also outline stage proposal (no deadline):
     • Next "gathering" date 01Dec26.
     • Worth doing to bring together our programme.
     • Focus on development of bio and med-tech aspects.
     • Potential also to bring forward a proposal on plasma lens post 11Sep26 meeting.
   • EU MCSA:
     • Restarted that at Imperial today!

3. 4-nation initiative:
   • Wales:
     • Discussion with Olivia Harrison, Monday. Buy in to concept of Wales-centric discussion. OH will contact M.Charlton.
     • Opportunities mentioned in EB discussion:
       • Glyndwr Innovotions cluster of optical companies;
       • Rutherford Proton Centre; Newport; went into liquidation in 2022. Agreed to find out status:
         • PP: Find out treatment/planning status and whether equipment has been recovered.
         • RA: Enquire of IBA what status is and how hard it might be to recommission.
   • Ireland (whole island?):
     • Discussion with RIA on Thursday.
     • PP: Include Sarah Quinlan in discussion.
     • TG: Royal College of Surgeons; Dublin; TG will investigate.
   • Scots:
     • RSE: BB will contact RSE and try and get meeting in Edinburgh
   • 2-year plan:
     • Goal to build case, in general and across the 4-nations and secure responsive mode funding over the next two years and target a meeting in the RS to launch LhARA initiative proper in two years time.
     • Agreed as plan for the near-term development of the initiative.

4. CP4CT workshop series:
   • 11Sep26: Cylindrically symmetric strong focusing
     • About to start advertising
   • xxYYY27: Novel time-resolved and high-resolution imaging -- need to start on it
     • Ask for people to invite
       • CW, KL, RA, TG (and all) seek relevant contacts at home institutes.
       • KL: reach out to Katia Parodi to ask if they can be part of organisers.

3. DONM
   
   • Date of next meeting: 04Aug26 -- 16:00 BST

• Next CM
  • Important to have set for next fortnightly.

4. AoB
   
   • KL, PP:
     • Met with Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage. Constituency includes the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. OG engaged and interested to support development of case for LhARA as an exemplar multidisciplinary high-risk/high-return initiative.
   • HO:
     • Pointed EB to: ​https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.05441
   • PP:
     • Reminder of need for biology plan; important to get a document defining the programme we wish to pursue. All encouraged to engage.

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