RADIOTHERAPY
The Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group
NCRI undertook a rapid review of research in radiotherapy and radiobiology in April 2008. As a result, the NCRI Board have agreed to establish a new Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group (CTRad) which will have a broad, strategic remit to develop an ambitious portfolio of practice changing trials. It will also be responsible for ensuring coordination across all aspects of radiobiology and radiotherapy research and for actively promoting translation of new discoveries into practice.
To download the Rapid Review of Radiotherapy and Associated Radiobiology 2008 report please click here.
This Working Group comprises of 4 workstreams, each of which is chaired by two co-chairs to bring together different key disciplines.
- Science Base – to monitor relevant new discoveries in disciplines such as radiobiology, DNA repair, physics and imaging, and to encourage collaboration between institutions.
- Phase I/II trials – to develop innovative trials that integrate systemic therapies with high quality radiotherapy techniques, supported with novel imaging and biomarker studies.
- Phase III trials – to develop trials in collaboration with tumour specific Clinical Studies Groups, and explore appropriate methodologies for evaluation of novel radiotherapy approaches
- New Technology, Physics and Quality Assurance – to develop the case for, and then oversee, the delivery of enhanced infrastructure support for radiotherapy trials in the UK, including QA and evaluation of new technologies.
In addition, an Executive Group has been established to oversee the individual workstreams and oversee other cross-cutting activities such as training and workforce development and a study on patterns of current radiotherapy care within the NHS. The members of the Executive Group are as follows.
| Chair: | Prof Tim Illidge |
| Deputy chair: | Dr Neil Burnet |
| Ex officio: | Prof Gillies McKenna |
| Ex officio: | Prof Tim Maughan |
| Ex officio: | Prof Ian Stratford |
| Workstream 1 co-chairs: | Dr Kaye Williams and Dr Kevin Harrington |
| Workstream 2 co-chairs: | Prof Ruth Plummer and Prof Anthony Chalmers |
| Workstream 3 co-chairs: | Dr Chris Nutting and Dr Emma Hall |
| Workstream 4 co-chairs: | Dr Ran Mackay and Dr John Staffurth |
| Consumer Member: | Mr Alfred Oliver and Mrs Hilary Blackburn |
The Executive Group published an article on 'Guidelines for preclinical and early phase clinical assessment of novel radiosensitisers' in the July 2011 issue of the British Journal of Cancer, you can find it on the journal's site .
The Executive Group have also published an editorial in the October 2010 issue of the Clinical Oncology journal, you can find it on the journal's site or you can read it here .
To download the list of the Working Group members, please click here.
In 2009, to promote this new Working Group initiative, Professor Tim Maughan published an editorial in Clinical Oncology journal (April 2009 issue). You can read it on the journal's site.
