Backed by clinical evidence and collaboration, the MR-Linac Consortium marks 20th meeting
Collaboration and evidence generation remain at the heart of the Consortium’s global effort to accelerate innovation
When more than 300 radiation oncology professionals gathered outside London in November 2025, the energy in the room was unmistakable. The MR-Linac Consortium’s most recent meeting wasn’t just the 20th meeting of the scientific conference; it was a celebration of how far MR-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) has come and an exciting glimpse into where it’s headed.
For Cameron Baillie, Elekta’s Clinical Collaborations Lead, the meeting highlighted a simple truth: “This community is the engine driving MRgRT forward. Every conversation, every shared protocol, every collaborative study brings us closer to transforming cancer care.”
From a small group of pioneers to a global network
When the Consortium launched in 2012, it was a small group of innovators exploring what seemed like a radical idea: combining a high-field MRI scanner with a linear accelerator to enable real-time imaging and online adaptive radiation therapy. Today, that idea is a reality, and the Consortium has grown to more than 100 member sites worldwide.
“The evolution has been extraordinary,” Baillie says. “We’ve gone from focusing on technical development to generating robust clinical evidence. Programs like the MOMENTUM (Multi-Outcome Evaluation of Radiation Therapy Using the Unity MR-Linac) study – the largest MRgRT data registry in the world – now holds data from more than 8,000 patients. That’s a scale I don’t think we could have imagined a decade ago.”
Alongside MOMENTUM, the Hypothesis Testing Program (HTP) sponsors clinical trials that accelerate evidence generation for MRgRT, including DESTINATION-2, which evaluates whether dose de-escalation can reduce toxicity in prostate radiotherapy, and MARS (MR Adaptive dose-escalated Radiotherapy for Rectal Sparing), which explores how MRgRT might help patients with rectal cancer avoid life-altering surgery. These initiatives, Baillie notes, are only possible because of the Consortium’s collaborative spirit.
Changing treatment paradigms
MRgRT is no longer just a technical achievement, it’s changing how clinicians think about cancer treatment. “The ability to see, adapt and deliver with precision means fewer fractions, fewer side effects and, in some cases, fewer surgeries,” Baillie explains. “We’re talking about more curative intent treatments and better quality of life for people with cancer.”
Recent studies presented at major conferences like the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), including trials like ERECT (EREctile Function Preservation for Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy) and UNITED (Unity-Based MR-Linac Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy for High Grade Glioma) point to promising outcomes in areas such as preserving sexual function in men with prostate cancer and the first major advance in radiation treatment for high-grade gliomas in more than 25 years. While full results await publication, the trend is clear: MRgRT is moving from concept to clinical cornerstone.
That shift was also evident to attendees. “Compared to just a few years ago, we’re seeing more mature data, a broader base of clinical experience and a significant increase in presentations directly addressing clinical outcomes,” said Dr. Kasri Rahim, radiation oncologist, GenesisCare, Fiona Stanley Hospital (Murdoch, Australia). “It’s a clear sign that the field is progressing from technical evidence to clinical evidence and practice.”
Dr. Sian Cooper, clinical research fellow, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research (London, UK) echoed that sentiment: “One of the most valuable parts of the Consortium meeting is the social side, it’s such an important space to build relationships with others who are working on similar challenges. You get exposed to different ways of thinking, for example, I had a great conversation with some Italian colleagues about their approach and clinical outcomes around re-irradiation and it really broadened my perspective.”
For Dr. John Conibear, consultant clinical oncologist, HCA Healthcare UK, the experience was eye opening: “Unity is currently being installed at our Harley Street Clinic in central London and having the opportunity to see how this global community is using the technology to shape cancer care was truly transformative. The ability to deliver treatment and visualize what’s happening inside the patient in real time and adapt accordingly will fundamentally change how we will deliver care.”
Built on collaboration and fun
According to Baillie, this year’s meeting had a collaborative tenet in every detail. Scientific sessions mixed clinical and technical content to encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue. Mentorship was woven into the program, from “MOMENTUM day” discussions to informal poster sessions that sparked deep conversations.
As in previous years, the meeting also awarded groundbreaking research through the best clinical, technical and young investigator abstracts.
- Dr. Julia Peltenburg from Netherlands Cancer Institute – Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital won the Christopher Schultz Award for best clinical abstract for her study on outcomes of patients with liver oligometastases treated with MRI- or CBCT-guided SBRT.
- Xiangyu Zhang, PhD, from West China Hospital of Sichuan University received the Jan Lagendijk Award for best technical abstract for developing a dual-stage deep learning framework to enhance abdominal cine MRI in real time.
- Dr. Tariq Lalmahomed, PhD candidate from University Medical Center Utrecht earned the Young Investigator Award for preliminary results from the ERECT trial, which showed promising erectile function preservation with neurovascular-sparing using MR-guided SBRT for localized prostate cancer.
New elements made this meeting especially memorable. For example, attendees toured Elekta’s manufacturing facility for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how linacs are built. “The factory tours were such a huge hit,” Baillie says. “People loved seeing how the technology they use every day comes to life.” Networking also got a creative twist with the “networking ninja” challenge, a bingo-style game that nudged participants to meet new colleagues.
Live AI translations were also implemented for the main plenary scientific sessions. “We received very positive feedback that members appreciated the translation capabilities – it ensured greater engagement and inclusivity for all participants,” Baillie notes.
One of the most significant new additions this year was the first CT-Linac Adaptive Consortium meeting. Twenty-five customers attended, signaling Elekta’s commitment to building strong user communities across modalities. “Adaptive radiotherapy isn’t just about MR,” Baillie says.
“By creating spaces for CT-Linac users to share best practices, we’re reinforcing the same principles – collaboration, peer support and evidence generation – that have made the MR-Linac Consortium so successful.”
Alex Morris, head of medical physics Genesis Care UK, and attendee of the CT-Linac meeting, remarked: “The CT-linac consortium kick-off meeting has been fantastic. With so many people from different fields and institutions, it’s been invaluable hearing everyone’s views and learning from other centers and building on their experience to strengthen our own CT adaptive program.”
Driving evidence forward together
Despite considerable progress, building clinical evidence takes time. Workflow heterogeneity, resource-intensive processes and data-sharing hurdles can slow evidence generation, but these challenges are being met head-on by the Consortium’s collaborative approach. For example, members are harmonizing protocols, exploring AI-assisted workflows to reduce contouring time and variability, and driving multi-center studies that pool data and expertise.
For Baillie, problem-solving is what makes the Consortium unique. “I had people come up and say, ‘I didn’t expect this to be so impactful.’ That’s what makes this community special. It’s not just about technology; it’s about people coming together to solve problems and improve patient care.”
Click here to view the clinical highlights webinar from the 20th MR-Linac Consortium meeting.
Staying connected year-round
The Consortium’s spirit of collaboration extends far beyond the annual meeting through ongoing engagement in regular Tumor Site Group (TSG) meetings, monthly Knowledge Exchange webinars, focus groups and other year-round initiatives that keep the global community connected. Members also have access to a members-only website, which serves as a central hub for ongoing collaboration.
“We encourage members to participate in TSG activities, as well as Brainstorm and Focus groups and to contribute to the Hypothesis Testing Program. Together, these initiatives strengthen communication, promote knowledge exchange, and deepen the collective expertise of the Consortium,” adds Baillie.
The 21st meeting will take place October 28-30, 2026, in Montreal, Canada.
For an inside look at how this voluntary group works together to improve radiation therapy for patients, visit MRLConsortium.org or follow the group on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
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