FRATHEA is a project to build a new type of irradiator, harnessing the power of very high-energy electrons (VHEE) and the Flash effect to tackle cancers with poor prognosis. Recently launched by Institut Curie in collaboration with the CEA, the system will be installed at the heart of Institut Curie’s hospital in Orsay. This breakthrough technology is expected to make it possible to treat deep-seated, hard-to-reach tumors, reduce side effects and improve patients’ quality of life, while accelerating treatments with shorter sessions.

The construction of this irradiator brings new challenges: how can ultra-intense beams be precisely dosed? How can their safety and effectiveness be guaranteed? To address these questions, CEA is mobilizing its cutting-edge expertise in instrumentation, modeling, and radiobiology. CEA-List teams will develop new measurement instruments to monitor the irradiator’s beam, measure the dose delivered, and ensure ambient dosimetry in the treatment room. Meanwhile, teams from IRCM of Institut de Biologie François Jacob will study the biological effects of FLASH-VHEE radiotherapy on in vitro and preclinical models to optimize its use in patients.

FRATHEA is now entering its operational phase with major financial support: €35 million over four years from France 2030’s “Innovation Santé 2030” plan, supplemented by €2 million from the Île-de-France Region through its “Grands Lieux d’Innovation” scheme. Its ambition: to establish by 2028 a one-of-a-kind platform worldwide to launch the first clinical trials.​