Helsinki University Hospital Opens Europe's First In-Hospital Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Facility

Neutron Therapeutics and HUS celebrate the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Finnish government officials.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Neutron Therapeutics LLC and the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) have celebrated the opening of their accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) facility, the first of its kind in Europe. The facility has been treating patients since May 2025 and is part of a 10-year collaboration between the two organizations.

Why it matters

BNCT is an innovative cancer treatment that uses targeted radiation to destroy tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. The opening of this facility in Helsinki marks a significant milestone in the advancement of BNCT as a cancer therapy, as it is the first such facility in Europe and will allow more patients to access this cutting-edge treatment.

The details

The BNCT facility at HUS utilizes Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam® device, a compact accelerator-based system designed specifically for BNCT. The device is used in combination with a boron-carrying compound called boronophenylalenine (BPA), which is prepared on-site at HUS. So far, nine patients have been treated at the facility as part of a 10-patient study aimed at demonstrating the safety of BNCT for locally recurrent head and neck cancer.

  • The BNCT facility at HUS began treating patients in May 2025.
  • The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on February 12, 2026.

The players

Neutron Therapeutics LLC

A leading provider of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems for use in the radiation treatment of cancer patients.

Helsinki University Hospital (HUS)

A pioneer in the clinical use of BNCT, having applied the therapy to over 200 cancer patients using a research nuclear reactor as a neutron source. HUS is continuing its leadership in developing clinical applications for BNCT with the new accelerator-based facility.

Kaisa Juuso

The Finnish Minister of Social Affairs.

Matti Bergendahl

The CEO of HUS.

Bill Buckley

The co-founder and majority shareholder of Neutron Therapeutics.

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What they’re saying

“With BNCT we saw an opportunity to use our technology to help people with cancer. I'm very proud of what we've been able to accomplish here together with HUS.”

— Bill Buckley, Co-founder and majority shareholder of Neutron Therapeutics

What’s next

The first clinical trial at the HUS BNCT facility is nearing completion, and the hospital plans to continue expanding its use of the technology to treat more cancer patients.

The takeaway

The opening of the BNCT facility at Helsinki University Hospital represents a significant advancement in the availability of this innovative cancer treatment in Europe. By bringing this technology in-house, HUS is positioning itself as a leader in the clinical application of BNCT and providing more patients access to this targeted radiation therapy.