Gerhard Kraft

Who is Gerhard Kraft?

Gerhard Kraft is a German physicist, best known for introducing heavy ion cancer therapy in Europe.

He was the founder and director of the Biophysics Department at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt. Particle therapy had already been performed in USA and Japan using protons, carbon, and other light ions. Gerhard Kraft introduced it in Europe, with two significant innovations: raster scanning and biological treatment planning. Under his direction, 440 patients were treated from 1997 to 2008 at GSI. Therapy now continues at the HIT center in Heidelberg using the system introduced at GSI. Prof. Kraft is currently Helmholtz Professor, an honorary position awarded by the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres in Germany to scientists with outstanding reputation.