Research Fellow National Radiotherapy QA Team in Northwood inNorthwood PUBLISHED TUE 3 JUN 2025 Jump to job information section

Would you like to be part of shaping the future direction of radiotherapy research in the UK? An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as a research fellow within the National Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance Group, based at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

Applications are invited for this full-time research fellow post available from April 2025. The post is funded by the National Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance (RTTQA) Group.

The RTTQA Group is a centralised UK resource which designs and implements QA programmes for all NIHR CRN Portfolio trials that include a radiotherapy component. The group exists as a single multi-professional network of radiographers, dosimetrists, clinical scientists and clinicians working collaboratively across a number of NHS sites.

The RTTQA Group monitors the quality of radiotherapy delivery in the multicentre trials arena. Poor quality radiotherapy can compromise the outcome of a trial and may also have negative consequences on patient outcomes. QA is recognised as an integral and essential part of the radiotherapy clinical trial process.

In the UK new technologies and techniques are used in clinical trials. The RTTQA Group engages early in the clinical trial development process. You would have the opportunity to be involved in practice changing developments in areas including proton beam therapy, adaptive treatments, MR-Linac and SABR.

An opportunity has arisen within the group, ideal for those looking to broaden their radiotherapy experience and knowledge. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, motivated, have exemplary communication skills and enjoy working as part of a dynamic team.

The applicant will be an integral member of the RTTQA Group providing clinical support and input. The post will be hosted by Mount Vernon Cancer Centre with activities across all RTTQA Group sites. The post holder will be expected to undertake a formal research project leading to a higher degree (MD) and to attend national and international meetings and conferences.

There will be an opportunity to maintain clinical skills within Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

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Assist with the development of trial protocols and radiotherapy guidelines, particularly with reference to imaging, outlining, multimodality and combination treatments.

Discuss and agree approaches with trial investigators to create acceptable consensus outlines for a trial. The post holder should have knowledge of target volume and organ at risk outlining for a variety of anatomical sites.

Provide support for review and reporting of pre-accrual and during accrual outlining cases.

Provide clinical advice and support to inform development of QA audit programmes.

Take a lead in implementing outlining workshops for trial education and training purposes and be prepared to travel as required.

Provide specialist clinical advice to radiotherapy consultants and other staff regarding the treatment of patients in clinical trials.

Participate in the review of treatment plans and understand the effect of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with the multidisciplinary group to create optimum treatment plans. The post holder should have knowledge of different planning techniques and be prepared to discuss this with other group members.

Take an active role in RTTQA Group meetings and trial management groups.

Develop an understanding of advanced radiotherapy, particularly in the areas of new treatment delivery and verification modalities and multi-modality imaging for target volume definition.

Take an active role collaborating in the assessment and development of software for trial QA case review.

The post holder will be expected to attend one or two clinical sessions per week according to training requirements and on occasions provide clinical cover during illness or absence.