Scientists in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP) of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Science, based in Novosibirsk’s science town Academgorodok, have started testing the accelerator of elementary particles at cancer-damaged live cells, science and technology portal STRF.ru reports.

According to the Institute’s academic secretary Aleksey Vasilyev, the technology implies injection into a patient’s body boron-containing substances that are accumulated in the cancer tumor. After that the diseased site is radiated with neutrons causing micro-nuclear explosion reaction.

The scientists claim that the device shows excellent results: the elementary particles strike only cancer cells and the radiated zone does not affect sites adjacent to the tumor. “Such accuracy allows to use the accelerator for brain cancer treatment,” Aleksey Vasilyev said.

The model is reportedly not adapted for radiating a human. In order to start testing on humans the scientists need a new space and about five years to continue research.

Investment in further research is estimated at a few dozen million dollars, Mr. Vasilyev confirms.

The Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP) of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Science was founded in Novosibirsk’s science town Academgorodok in 1958. The Institute specializes in the next fundamental research fields: accelerators’ physics and techniques; research in elementary particles physics based on functioning and created complexes with electron-positron colliding beams; research in electro- and photo-nuclear physics based on using accumulators of charged particles; creation and implementation of synchronic radiation sources; research in plasma physics and managed thermonuclear fusion based at open-type systems.