Oncoray

What Oncoray does

OncoRay — National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology is a Dresden-based, multi-institutional research center established in 2005 and jointly operated by University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden (Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus), and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). It conducts translational cancer research aimed at biologically-personalized and technically-optimized radiation therapy, with approximately 80 scientists organized into specialized groups covering high-precision proton therapy, experimental MR-integrated proton therapy, prompt-gamma based treatment verification, biomarkers for individualized radiotherapy, molecular and cellular radiobiology, tumor pathophysiology, modeling and biostatistics, and preclinical imaging.

The center's core technology stack centers on proton therapy and radiation oncology research infrastructure, including an in-room dual-energy CT, MRI-guided proton therapy systems (notably the world's first in-beam MRI for proton therapy in 2018 and a unique whole-body bi-directional MR scanner installed in 2023), experimental proton beam lines, and prompt-gamma slit cameras for in-vivo range verification. OncoRay has achieved multiple world-first clinical implementations, including direct DECT-based proton treatment planning in 2019 (reducing range uncertainty from ~3.5% to ~2%) and the first clinical application of prompt-gamma slit cameras for in-vivo range verification. The RadPlanBio platform coordinates multicenter clinical and preclinical study data across the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), of which OncoRay/Dresden is the radiooncology partner site since 2012. Educational offerings include Master, PhD, and Clinician Scientist programs.

OncoRay does not operate as a commercial entity. Its revenue mechanics are twofold: project-based government research funding (primarily from BMBF/BMFTR and DKTK) and clinical services revenue flowing through the associated University Hospital's Universitäts Protonen Therapie Dresden (UPTD) and Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiooncology. Patient treatment has been available at UPTD since late 2014. The center maintains a minimal commercial marketing presence, relying on scientific publications, conferences, and professional networks for outreach, and is funded through grants rather than equity capital.

Name

Oncoray

Legal name

OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology

Website

https://oncoray.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OncoRay is a Dresden-based national cancer research center jointly operated by University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TU Dresden, and HZDR, employing ~80 scientists to develop biologically personalized and technically optimized radiation therapy, with world-first clinical implementations in proton therapy, MRI-guided proton therapy, and prompt-gamma treatment verification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radiation Oncology Research and Proton Therapy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Radiation Oncology (HLAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Radiation oncology research
• Proton therapy treatment
• Cancer radiotherapy
• Clinical trials oncology
• Translational cancer research

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: OncoRay receives funding from German federal ministries (BMBF, BMFTR) and state government sources for radiation research projects. Major funding includes 1.1 million euros for MEDABIS-PRO project over four years.
2. Clinical Services Revenue: Revenue generated through patient treatment services at the Universitäts Protonen Therapie Dresden (UPTD) and associated radiotherapy departments at University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

OncoRay is a national cancer research center that develops biologically personalized and technically optimized radiation therapy, with a primary focus on proton therapy and advanced radiotherapy methods. It conducts multidisciplinary cancer research across radiation physics, biology, and clinical oncology, translating research findings into clinical application through the Universitäts Protonen Therapie Dresden (UPTD) and the Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiooncology at University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden.

Product overview

OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology is a multi-institutional research center jointly operated by University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TU Dresden Medical Faculty, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. The center conducts multidisciplinary cancer research with approximately 80 scientists focused on improving radiation therapy through biologically personalized and technically optimized treatments. The research portfolio includes proton therapy development, MR-integrated proton therapy, dual-energy CT, prompt-gamma imaging for treatment verification, biomarker research, preclinical imaging, and radiomics/biostatistics modeling. Educational offerings include Master and PhD programs. The center also hosts the Clinical Trial Center and the RadPlanBio database platform for DKTK-wide clinical and preclinical study data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Proton Therapy Treatment Clinical proton therapy treatment at the Universitäts Protonen Therapie Dresden (UPTD), where protons precisely target tumors while sparing healthy tissue. Available since late 2014 for cancer patients including those with brain tumors, head and neck tumors, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.
• RadPlanBio Platform Central research infrastructure database for DKTK-wide multicenter clinical and preclinical studies, linking imaging, radiotherapy plan data, biomarker information, and follow-up data. Coordinated by Dresden and Heidelberg.
• Clinical Trial Center Facility at OncoRay that conducts clinical trials in radiation oncology, including biomarker evaluation studies (HNprädBio) and translational clinical research across DKTK sites.
• Master Program Medical Radiation Sciences Academic degree program offered at OncoRay providing training in medical radiation sciences for students pursuing careers in radiation oncology research and clinical practice.
• PhD Program Doctoral research training program at OncoRay for candidates pursuing advanced research in radiation oncology and related disciplines.
• Clinician Scientist Program Structured training program for clinician scientists combining clinical practice with research activities in radiation oncology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Range uncertainty reduction from 3.5% to 2% through dual-energy CT implementation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012DKTK connects the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) as core research center with eight leading university sites for translational cancer research. OncoRay/Dresden serves as the DKTK site focused on Radiooncology, coordinating the 'Radioonkologie und Bildgebung' program across the consortium.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOncoRay is jointly operated by HZDR, TU Dresden, and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden. HZDR provides research infrastructure including the experimental proton beam line and contributes scientific expertise in radiation physics and radiobiology. The partnership enables the unique combination of clinical patient care with advanced radiation research.
• Faculty of Medicine, TU DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Faculty of Medicine at TU Dresden is one of three institutional carriers of OncoRay, providing academic resources, medical education, and research leadership in radiation oncology.
• University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity Hospital provides the clinical infrastructure for patient treatment including the Universitäts Protonen Therapie Dresden (UPTD) and Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiooncology. This enables direct translation of research findings to patient care.
• National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCRO is the national coordinating body for radiation research in oncology in Germany, of which OncoRay is a major component, enabling coordination of radiation oncology research across the country.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLR's Cellbox program funds the ILLUMINATE research project investigating liver tissue response to microgravity and cosmic radiation. OncoRay contributes expertise in radiation biology and preclinical imaging.
• Horizon 2020 Projects (IMMUNOSABR and INSPIRE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union Horizon 2020 research programs in which OncoRay participates as part of international research networks developing and translating novel therapeutic strategies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ): Core research center of DKTK and OncoRay's national network partner. Direct peer as the leading German cancer research institution coordinating translational research across the same consortium OncoRay participates in.
• RaySearch Laboratories: Swedish company developing treatment planning software for radiation therapy including proton therapy. Direct peer as a technology provider enabling the kind of adaptive, robust treatment planning OncoRay develops and validates clinically.
• Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT): German ion-beam therapy center operating proton and carbon-ion therapy with active research programs. Direct peer to OncoRay as a leading German proton therapy research and treatment facility with similar translational research mission.
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) - Proton Therapy: Swiss research institute operating one of the world's longest-running proton therapy facilities (since 1984) with active research in pencil beam scanning and proton therapy innovation. Direct peer in proton therapy research and clinical translation.

Broad incumbents

• MD Anderson Cancer Center: World-leading US cancer research and treatment center with substantial radiation oncology research programs. Broad incumbent peer in translational oncology research with proton therapy capabilities.
• Varian Medical Systems (Siemens Healthineers): Largest radiation oncology equipment vendor globally, now part of Siemens Healthineers, offering proton therapy systems and radiation oncology software. Broad incumbent serving the same oncology market OncoRay researches.
• Ion Beam Applications (IBA): Global leader in proton therapy equipment manufacturing and a technology partner of OncoRay (provided the prompt-gamma slit camera). Broad incumbent operating commercially in the same proton therapy ecosystem where OncoRay conducts research.
• Massachusetts General Hospital - Proton Therapy Center: Major US academic medical center with a pioneering proton therapy program and extensive radiation oncology research. Broad incumbent peer combining clinical proton therapy with translational research similar to OncoRay's model.

Emerging players

• Mevion Medical Systems: US-based compact proton therapy system manufacturer focused on making proton therapy more accessible. Emerging commercial player whose technology direction (smaller, cheaper systems) intersects with OncoRay's research into precision improvements.

Regional players

• National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST/NIRS): Japanese national research institute operating the world's first hospital-based carbon-ion therapy facility with extensive heavy-ion therapy research. Regional peer focusing on particle therapy research in a different geography than OncoRay.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oncoray
• Xx.com/oncoray_press

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oncoray