The National Institute of Radiological Sciences hospital was established in 1961 as a research hospital with a basic focus on
radiation therapy. In 1993, the HIMAC (Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba) of NIRS was launched, and in 1997, the Research Center for Charged Particle Therapy was opened as one of the leading medical centers using
carbon ions are in operation. On April 1, 2016, the
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) transferred some of its laboratories to the NIRS, and the NIRS body was renamed to the
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), which includes existing laboratories of the NIRS; the NIRS is currently a radiological research division of the QST. == Organizational structure ==