Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

CERN’s mission extends beyond science: it also aims to advance the frontiers of technology, in all fields. The technologies and scientific advances behind high-energy physics - through developments in accelerators, detectors and computing - have historically contributed to the field of medical and biomedical applications. Future developments will continue to help address global societal challenges in healthcare, whether for therapy, medical imaging, medical and biomedical research, or biomedical technologies. While fundamental research in particle physics is CERN’s core activity, the Laboratory actively contributes to the link between high-energy physics and the medical field.

Remarkable examples are particle accelerators used in Hadron Therapy for the treatment of tumours. Medical Imaging using scintillating crystals for PET scanners and pixel detectors (Medipix) for X-Rays. Simulation and computing tools for patients’ treatment plans. Moreover, more and more efforts are spent at CERN, towards making these technologies more affordable and available for developing countries and in challenging environments.

"Knowledge transfer to medical applications is a great way of fulfilling our mission to disseminate CERN’s results to society as widely as possible."
- Frédéric Bordry, CERN’s Director for Accelerators and Technology & Chair of the Medical Applications Steering Committee

"CERN contributes to medical applications, with the goal of providing solutions to societal health challenges."
- Fabiola Gianotti, CERN Director-General