Improved radiotherapy to treat curable cancers relies heavily on advanced imaging to define and locate the tumour volume, and on physical techniques to conform the radiation to it spatially and temporally. Among other techniques, doctoral candidates will investigate quality assurance in dosimetry imaging and radiotherapy delivery with small radiation fields
The overall objective of the CRP is to enhance the capabilities of Member States to develop new techniques, methodologies, and training programmes in medical physics for advanced radiation treatment.
The specific purpose of this project is to enhance the capability of Member States to implement advanced radiotherapy treatments with curative intent, such as IMRT, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) et cetera, by training a number of medical physicists at the Ph.D. level with research and clinical capability
New radiotherapy technologies are complex and therefore require a qualitative increase in the education and training of personnel using it. With the introduction of new technology, comes an increased risk of treatment errors due to that complexity. Therefore, it is essential that quality assurance and medical physics aspects of treatment modalities are understood and implemented correctly to achieve the expected clinical outcome. The CRP had a positive impact on (i) capacity building for research and development, (ii) safe and effective use of new treatment modalities through QA leading to improved patient treatment, and (iii) to improve the qualifications of medical physicists engaged in the implementation of new treatment techniques, and organization of high level medical physics educational programmes in the participating countries. The pairing of a host institution from a developing country with an agreement institution from a developed country in a doctoral programme, had a positive impact on medical physics services, teaching and research in the participating countries. This has enabled the optimised use of new treatment modalities through QA leading to improved patient treatment, and to increase the number of medical physicists engaged in the implementation of new treatment techniques, and organization of high level medical physics educational programmes in their own countries
The scope of the work covered by the CRP remains highly relevant to the Agency's mandate to support implementation of new technology in radiotherapy and corresponding quality assurance programmes. The