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More than 500 delegates from 25 countries will gather in Chennai this week for PTCOG-AO 2026 – the 6th Annual Conference of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group Asia-Oceania, marking the first time the regional particle therapy meeting is being held in India.
The three-day conference, from 4–6 September 2026 at Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa, Chennai, will bring together cancer specialists including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, researchers, radiobiologists, engineers, technology leaders, and other specialists involved in advancing proton and particle therapy worldwide. Hosted by Apollo Proton Cancer Centres, Chennai, PTCOG-AO 2026 is being organised around the theme “Empowering Access to Particle Therapy through Research, Education & Collaboration.”
The conference will be formally inaugurated by Dr Prathap C. Reddy, founder and chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group. One of the key highlights of PTCOG-AO 2026 will be the Dr Prathap C. Reddy Annual Apollo Proton Oration, instituted to recognise distinguished contributions to the advancement of particle therapy and cancer care. This year’s Oration will be delivered by Professor Marco Durante, Germany, president of PTCOG Global and one of the world’s leading experts in particle therapy and radiobiology.
The scale and international representation of this year’s meeting reflect the rapidly expanding interest in particle therapy across Asia-Oceania. Delegates and faculty from countries including Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, Europe, the United States, and India will participate in the scientific programme.
Dr Rakesh Jalali, organising chairman, PTCOG-AO 2026 and medical director, Apollo Proton Cancer Centres, said “Asia-Oceania is emerging as one of the most important regions globally for the future development of particle therapy. The next phase, however, cannot be driven by technology alone. We need robust clinical evidence, collaborative research, appropriately trained professionals and models that allow these advances to reach many more patients. Bringing PTCOG-AO to India for the first time provides an extraordinary opportunity to bring this community together and collectively shape a more evidence-driven, collaborative and accessible future for particle therapy.”
The focus is increasingly extending beyond installation of technology to questions of patient selection, clinical outcomes, generation of evidence, treatment quality, workforce development, research collaboration and equitable access. The PTCOG-AO 2026 scientific programme reflects this evolution. Sessions will cover clinical oncology, medical physics, radiobiology, treatment planning and delivery, technological innovation, quality assurance, facility development, clinical research and emerging directions in particle therapy.
Internationally recognised leaders including Professor Marco Durante (Germany) and president of PTCOG global, Prof Eugen Hug (Austria), Professor Anita Mahajan (USA), Professor Tatsuya Ohno (Japan- president of PTCOG AO), Professor Jin Sung Kim (Korea), Professor Sung Yong Park (Singapore) and Dr Hsiao-ming Lu (China), together with leading experts from India and the wider Asia-Oceania region, are among those contributing to the meeting.
Dr Srinivas Chilukuri, scientific chair and organising secretary, PTCOG-AO 2026, and Lead Consultant – Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centres, said “The real measure of progress in proton therapy is not simply how many centres or machines exist, but how effectively the technology improves patient outcomes and how widely that expertise can be shared. At Apollo Proton Cancer Centres, we have now treated patients from 38 countries, including more than 1,000 children.”
PTCOG-AO 2026 will therefore place particular emphasis on bringing together institutions at different stages of their particle therapy journey and creating opportunities for collaborative studies, shared learning and capacity building. The conference is being led by chief patron Dr Prathap C Reddy; Patrons Dr Preetha Reddy and Harshad Reddy; organising chairman Dr Rakesh Jalali; organising vice-chairman Dr Sapna Nangia; scientific chair and organising secretary Dr Srinivas Chilukuri; scientific committee chair – Physics/Biology Dr Dayananda Sharma; and co-organising secretary Dr Ashu Abhishek.
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