THE LANZL INSTITUTE

The mission of the Lawrence H. Lanzl Institute of Medical Physics is to promote human betterment through research and education in medical physics.

The Institute is named in honor of the late Dr. Lawrence H. Lanzl, who was a pioneer both in developing effective radiation treatment of cancer and in directly furthering the development of radiation treatment centers throughout the world, through his consultative visits sponsored by United Nations organizations.  In 1978 Dr. Lanzl was awarded the William D. Coolidge Award, the highest honor conferred by the American Association of Medical Physics, for his lifelong contributions to the field of medical physics.  He served as President of the International Organization for Medical Physics and the International Union of Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, and he recently retired from the Department of Medical Physics of Rush University in Chicago, where he served as its Chairperson.  Dr. Lanzl died on December 23, 2001 at the age of 80, and a moving memorial service was held for him on February 9, 2002 at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel of the University of Chicago.

The Lanzl Institute was founded in 1993 to carry out research on improving methods of radiation dose calculation, specifically the development of more accurate computer algorithms for calculating the dose from electron and photon (x-ray) beams used in treating cancer.  Recent research has explored, both theoretically and through Monte Carlo calculations, the use of very strong magnetic fields to concentrate the radiation dose in photon (x-ray) beams.  Very large dose enhancements are possible.

The Lanzl Institute is a nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.   As such, all of its activities are overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors.

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