external exposure facility Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Centre (HIT) Paul Schofield Haberer Th. et al., Radiother Oncol, 73 (Suppl. 2), S186-S190 website The Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Centre (HIT), part of Heidelberg University Hospital and operational since November 2009, is Europe's first combined proton and heavy ion therapy facility, delivering proton and carbon ion beams (and also oxygen and helium ions) via an intensity-modulated raster scanning system to approximately 750 patients per year in three treatment rooms. It is strategically located 45 minutes from Frankfurt airport and offers beam time for experimental research proposals evaluated by HIT alongside its clinical programme, with the beam application system based on intensity-modulated raster scanning technology allowing maximum 3D flexibility. Research proposals should be submitted to Proposal.HIT@med.uni-heidelberg.de. Located at Heidelberg University Hospital.