Velindre leading the way in radiotherapy innovation across Wales

19 October 2026

A Velindre-led programme, Advancing Radiotherapy Cymru (ARC), is helping transform cancer care across Wales by accelerating innovation in radiotherapy and improving outcomes and experiences for patients.

ARC is a national collaboration bringing together health boards, clinicians and partners from across Wales to introduce new technologies, expand access to advanced treatment techniques and drive continuous service improvement. Since launching in June 2023, the programme has supported 17 projects across Velindre University NHS Trust, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, delivering tangible benefits for patients receiving radiotherapy treatment.

With more than 4,000 new radiotherapy referrals each year at Velindre alone, the programme has the potential to positively impact thousands of people across Wales. By investing in innovation, research and workforce development, ARC is helping ensure patients have access to the latest advances in radiotherapy, while supporting more efficient, sustainable and equitable cancer services for the future.

Recognising excellence

ARC has been recognised nationally for its collaborative approach, winning the Innovation and Improvement Award in the Working Together Achievement category at the Wales Moondance Awards.

The award was presented for the Building a Multi-Professional Radiotherapy Workforce initiative, which brings together Velindre University NHS Trust, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Advancing Radiotherapy Cymru (ARC) and the Velindre Oncology Academy.

The partnership is addressing workforce challenges that can affect capacity and access to radiotherapy treatment. By redesigning roles and supporting more flexible ways of working, the programme is helping to create a sustainable workforce for the future. This will support faster access to treatment, reduce service pressures and improve the experience of cancer care across Wales.

Dr James Powell, Clinical Lead for ARC said  "Established in 2023, the ARC Academy was created to support and fund radiotherapy development initiatives across Wales. It was therefore fantastic to see one of our ARC-funded receive national recognition at the recent Moondance Awards, with a nomination in the Working Together category. This achievement reflects the outstanding collaborative approach that lies at the heart of the project and exemplifies the partnership and collaboration across the radiotherapy community that ARC seeks to foster."

"To date, ARC has funded a range of projects across Wales in the themes of workforce training, innovation, clinically focused radiotherapy research, and stereotactic radiotherapy development. Promoting collaboration across these priority areas has been a key objective of ARC and is one of its most significant achievements. As these projects proceed, we are excited to see their outcomes and wider impact, and we look forward to the research, innovation, and service improvements that ARC funding will help deliver for patients and radiotherapy services across Wales in the years ahead."

Looking to the future

ARC is a five-year programme running from 2023–2028, supported by matched funding from Velindre Cancer Charity and The Moondance Foundation.

Looking ahead, the ARC Academy will continue to strengthen radiotherapy services across Wales by driving innovation, expanding research opportunities, and developing a skilled and sustainable workforce. Through investment in clinical service improvement, education and training, workforce development, and world-class radiotherapy research, the Academy aims to ensure that patients across Wales benefit from the latest advances in treatment, improved access to care, and better outcomes for generations to come.

Find out more about our ARC programme, view our project brochure here.

ARC is delivered in collaboration with Swansea Bay Health University Board and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board