Course director 

• Philipp Scherer, Radiation Therapist, UK f Radiotherapy and Radio Oncology at PMU at SALK, (AT)

Teachers 

• Helen Grimes, Medical Physicist, UCLH, London (UK)
• Lisa Wiersema, Radiation Therapist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)  
• Peter Remeijer, Medical Physicist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)  
• Sophie Bockel, Radiation Oncologist at Gustave Roussy, Paris (FR)
• Lykke K. Johansen, Radiation Therapist, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (DK)
• Paloma Sosa, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla (ES)

Local organizer

• Ljupcho Iliev, Head of RTT, Bulgaria, ACC University Hospital Tokuda, Sofia (BG)

The aim of the course is to give an overview of the modern radiotherapy pathway, and the time to develop the tools and skills required to implement these techniques in your own clinic. This will be covered in the form of lectures, clinical cases and workshops, including sessions where you will be able to get hands on experience using clinical IGRT systems.

By the end of this course, participants should be able to: 

·Appreciate where modern radiation therapy is at with respect to pre-treatment imaging and target definition, radiobiology, treatment planning and image (and surface) guidance, as well as adaptive radiation therapy

·Appreciate the importance of knowledge of the entire treatment chain of radiation therapy 

·Comprehend and calculate geometrical uncertainties and margins 

·Comprehend the physics of image registration and its influence on clinical image registration 

·Appreciate the importance of quality assurance and risk management

·Develop the skills to implement advanced techniques into your own clinic

Course Content

• Pre-treatment imaging modalities: what is available and how is it used in target definition and organ at risk delineation? This includes what to consider with AI auto-segmentation
• Patient preparation and immobilisation: what is (im)possible, and is it still important in modern radiation therapy? 
• Geometrical uncertainties and correction strategies: what are the uncertainties in modern radiation therapy, and how do correction strategies affect PTV margins? How to calculate your own margins (workshop) 
• Update on advances in radiotherapy treatment planning
• Imaging modalities in the treatment room: what is available and how can it be used to find the target volume? 
• Image registration and evaluation: how to make the best use of the images at hand - is it always just finding the target volume?
• Understanding algorithms, regions of interest, and correction reference points: how to create protocols for IGRT management (workshops and hands-on) 
• Site-specific advanced treatment and IGRT techniques, as well as adaptive strategies
• Surface guided radiotherapy and what this offers to the radiotherapy pathway
• Safety issues: the importance of incident reporting and a feedback loop 
• Implementing and managing advanced treatment techniques: how to implement newly gained skills in your department in a multidisciplinary environment, and what impact might AI have on future clinical practice?

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course, participants should have an interest in all steps of radiation therapy. All delegates are expected to take part in all lectures, tutorials, and workshops.

Teaching Methods

Approximately (4,5 days/36 h): 

• 23 hours of lectures 
• 3 hours of tutorials 
• 10 hours of practical workshops

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ  
• Delineation exercises 
• Evaluation form

Affilliations

Key Words

• Radiation therapist (RTT) 
• Pre-treatment imaging 
• Treatment planning 
• Image guidance 
• Geometrical uncertainties

The preliminary programme is available here. 

Accreditation

Application for CME recognition will be submitted to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). Information on the status of the applications can be obtained from the ESTRO office

Acibadem City Clinic Hospital “Tokuda”

bul. "Nikola Y. Vaptsarov" 51B

1407 Sofia, Bulgaria

Registered course participants are eligible for a preferential rate at the hotel located across from the meeting venue (Tokuda Hospital). To receive the discount code and additional information, after you have registered for the course, please contact Martina Hristova at mhristova@estro.org

The ESTRO Solidarity Fund receives generous funding from the ESTRO Supporting Ambassador members. This fund enables the financing of three grants for the ESTRO courses in 2026.

Each grant is set at 1,500€ and is intended to cover the cost of one registration for the course (350€). Additionally, it assists in partially reimbursing expenses related to travel, on-site accommodation and food.

Reimbursements will be based on expense reports provided by the beneficiary, ensuring that the total reimbursement does not exceed the grant amount under any circumstances.

Selection criteria

The applicant should be:

• An ESTRO member in 2026
• Currently in training
• Active in the field of radiotherapy, radiobiology, radiation physics, or radiation technology.
• Citizen of low-income, lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries (based on the World bank listing). Additionally, citizens from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Russian Federation can apply.  
• Should have not USED the ESTRO Solidarity Fund to attend events within the past two years.
• Must provide the application form, a motivation letter, a curriculum vitae and a recommendation letter from their head of department confirming the current training status of the candidate and the essential need for financial assistance to attend the ESTRO event, highlighting the benefits to the department or institute. The applicant should also be available for an interview with the ESTRO decision panel if necessary.

Selection of candidates will be made by the ESTRO decision panel.

Deadline for submission of application: 10 March 2026 (23:59 CET)

Applications should be sent to vcremades@estro.org

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2026 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In-Training fee

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policy. ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take insurance policies to cover flight and accommodation cancellation penalties. ESTRO will not refund any travel or accommodation expenses.

For any cancellation made by the course participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.  In addition, medical physicists from Cyprus can email education@estro.org to apply for this fee.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2026 are eligible (please make sure your 2026 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  

 Please note:

• We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course
• Application deadlines are the same as early registration fees