MedAustron Ion Beam Therapy Center

MedAustron in Austria is one of the most advanced particle therapy centres in the world. Located near Vienna in Wiener Neustadt, it is one of only six such facilities globally to offer a safe and effective alternative to conventional radiation therapy. Over 1,000 patients are treated here each year at this state-of-the-art 32,200 m² facility. The medical centre offers both proton and carbon ion beam therapy. These forms of particle therapy have the major advantage of greater precision — they deliver radiation doses directly to tumour cells with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This is especially important for treating cancers near critical structures such as the brainstem, spinal cord, and optic nerves, and for rare cancers such as eye melanoma, chondrosarcoma, and chordoma. Particle therapy at MedAustron significantly reduces the risk of relapse or secondary cancer compared to conventional radiotherapy. It does not require hospitalization — immediately after treatment, patients can return to their normal daily activities. This is particularly important for children who are more vulnerable to the long-term effects of radiation. MedAustron is a collaboration between the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, the Government of Lower Austria, and the City of Wiener Neustadt. As part of the European research infrastructure, the centre also conducts cutting-edge research in particle physics and oncology.