Conjoint Professor Peter Greer
Conjoint Professor
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
EditCareer Summary
Biography
Professor Peter Greer currently holds a full-time research position leading medical physics research at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital and University of Newcastle. He graduated with a PhD in medical physics from the University of Adelaide in 2001. His work broadly aims to improve the treatment of cancer patients with radiation therapy and enable high quality effective treatments. In 2005 Peter began a grant funded research career and has since received $5M in research funding including NHMRC, Cancer Council NSW, Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia, and ARC grants. He has established a strong track record of translating research funding into successful outcomes. Several aspects of his research are currently being developed into commercial products for radiation oncology and medical imaging. He has received several awards including Early Career Researcher of the Year from the Hunter Medical Research Institute in 2011 - the premier award for early career medical research in the region. He has 50 publications in the last five years including several invited review articles. Peter served on a NHMRC grant review panel in 2011.
Research
Research keywords
- MRI based planning
- dose verification
- electronic portal imaging
Research expertise
Approximately half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy. It is a major frontline treatment for cancer along with surgery and is often complemented by chemotherapy. High energy radiation beams are used to damage the DNA of cancer cells in solid tumours while minimising the normal tissue damage to surrounding organs. The radiation can be delivered externally using medical linear accelerators (teletherapy) or internally using radioactive sources (brachytherapy). Modern radiation therapy is extremely sophisticated with imaging techniques such as MRI, CT, PET used for delineating tumour targets, complex dose calculation algorithms to plan the treatments and highly tailored dose distributions delivered using intensity modulated radiation beams. Medical physicists play a key role in all aspects of radiation oncology and drive the development of improved technology and techniques through research.
Peter has been conducting research since 2005 to improve radiation therapy planning with MRI. In collaboration with CSIRO Biomedical Imaging Research Group at the Australian E-Health Research Centre he has developed the first atlas-based deformable image registration method to map realistic electron densities to MRI scans for dose calculations. This could lead to the use of MRI scans directly for radiation oncology prostate planning and adaptive treatment. This will reduce uncertainties in the planning of treatments and has been recently published in the leading international clinical radiation oncology journal.
In parallel with this, accurate prostate auto-segmentation methods using atlas based methods have been developed. This work won an international challenge for automatic prostate segmentation in MRI images (MICCAI, London, 2009). This work is critical for the use of MRI in adaptive radiotherapy planning and could lead to improvements in treatment targeting. He currently has an active research program using the state-of-the-art Calvary Mater 3T Skyra MRI scanner installed in April 2011 to improve radiation therapy planning. This scanner has recently obtained a Master Research Agreement with Siemens which will facilitate research in audiovisual biofeedback as well as the development of specialised sequences for lung imaging.
Peter is recognised as a world leader in the field of radiation dosimetry with flat-panel imaging devices, investigating methods to measure the dose received by patients during treatment. He published one of the major papers in this field which has been cited over 130 times. He has been twice the Scientific Director for the major international conference in radiotherapy treatment imaging. He is Track Chair for the radiotherapy verification stream for the World Congress on Medical Physics and Bioengineering in 2012. He has been awarded the Varian Prize for research in this field and is regularly invited to give presentations at national and international conferences and workshops. His reputation in this area has resulted in him currently being the only worldwide test centre to have the major linear accelerator vendors prototype imager design. This collaboration is improving these devices for dosimetry and developing software algorithms to enable their more widespread clinical use for dosimetry.
Publications (PubMed) [ Note this is an incomplete list ]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=greer pb
Languages
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|
| 029903 | Medical Physics | 80 |
| 090399 | Biomedical Engineering Not Elsewhere Classified | 10 |
| 110399 | Clinical Sciences Not Elsewhere Classified | 10 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- Treasurer - Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine
- Accredited Physicist - Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine
- Ordinary Member - Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine
Appointments
Grant Review Panel Member
NHMRC (Australia) | 01/03/2011 - 01/12/2011 |
Awards
Research Award.
| 2010 | Early Career Researcher of the Year
HMRI (Australia)
The premier award for early career medical research in the Hunter region |
|---|
| 2010 | Best poster prize
Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (Canada)
Best research poster |
|---|
| 2009 | 3D Segmentation Challenge for Clinical Applications
MICCAI (United Kingdom)
First Prize |
|---|
| 2007 | Best presentation in Radiation therapy
Varian Medical Systems (Australia)
EPSM-ABEC conference, 2007 |
|---|
Invitations
33rd National Conference
Association of Medical Physicists of India, India (Invited Presenter)
| 2012 |
Ballina Relay for Life and Men of League Fundraiser
Cancer Council NSW, Australia (Invited Presenter)
| 2012 |
EPID based QA
World Congress on Medical Physics and Bioengineering, China (Invited Presenter)
| 2012 |
EPID for pre-treatment VMAT verification
International Conference on 3D Dosimetry, Australia (Invited Presenter)
| 2012 |
Challenges for Verification of IMRT
16th International Conference on Solid State Dosimetry, Australia (Invited Presenter)
| 2010 |
Atlas based methods for MR dose planning
RadAim Conference, Australia (Invited Presenter)
| 2010 |
Collaboration
Current collaborations include:
- CSIRO E-Health Centre, Biomedical Imaging Group (MRI based treatment planning)
- CancerCare Manitoba (Real-time dose verification of radiation therapy treatments)
- University of Sydney (A/V Biofeedback for lung MRI imaging, dose verification for MRI-linac, Development of next-generation radiotherapy imaging devices)
Administrative
Administrative expertise
Peter was Honorary Treasurer of the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, the professional body representing around 600 medical physicists and engineers working in medicine in Australia and New Zealand. He has been twice the Scientific Director for the major international conference in radiotherapy treatment imaging. He was Track Chair for the radiotherapy verification stream for the World Congress on Medical Physics and Bioengineering in 2012. Peter manages his own research group based at the Calvary Mater Newcastle, including staff supervision, management of budgets and reports.
Teaching
Teaching keywords
Teaching expertise
Peter teaches medical physics courses at 4th year level. He has supervised many research higher degree students.
EditPublications
No publications.
EditGrants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 33 |
|---|
| Total funding | $5,258,310 |
|---|
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
- Indicates that the researcher may be seeking students for this project.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (3 grants)
Safety and Quality: IMRT Treatment Delivery Accuracy$200,000
Funding Body: ROI (Radiation Oncology Institute) USA
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Dr Jarad Martin, Professor Paul Keall, Dr Michael Lovelock, Dr Yoshiya Yamada, Dr Boyd McCurdy, Dr James Butler, Dr Jeffrey Siebers, Associate Professor Elisabeth Weiss |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $200,000 | 2013 | 2014 |
| GNo:G1300205 |
The Australian MRI-Linac Program: Improving cancer treatment through real-time image guided adaptive radiotherapy$142,635
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Paul Keall, Professor Michael Barton, Professor Stuart Crozier, Conjoint Professor Peter Greer |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Program Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $142,635 | 2013 | 2017 |
| GNo:G1200920 |
Pre-treatment verification of VMAT and in-vivo verification of patient treatments$50,146
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Dr Jarad Martin, Professor Paul Keall, Dr Michael Lovelock, Dr Yoshiya Yamada, Dr Boyd McCurdy, Dr James Butler, Dr Jeffrey Siebers, Associate Professor Elisabeth Weiss |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $50,146 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300893 |
2012 (7 grants)
An adaptable and dedicated linear accelerator for medical radiation research$600,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $600,000 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:178954884 |
Optimising radiation therapy delivery for cancer patients using daily image guidance to maximize cure and reduce normal tissue side effects$494,436
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $494,436 | 2012 | 2014 |
| GNo:178954876 |
Development of high precision MRI based prostate cancer radiation therapy$300,000
Funding Body: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Young Investigator Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $300,000 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:178954892 |
Project EVA: an environmentally responsible facility for interdisciplinary supercomputing applications$263,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Pablo Moscato, Laureate Professor Jon Borwein, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Conjoint Professor Chris Levi, Professor Mark Parsons, Professor Michael Ostwald, Professor Hugh Craig, Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Associate Professor Stephan Chalup, Associate Professor Regina Berretta |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Equipment Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $263,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100627 |
Optimising radiation therapy delivery for cancer patients using daily image guidance to maximize cure and reduce normal tissue side effects$67,877
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Farshad Foroudi, Doctor Thomas Eade, Professor Tomas Kron, Dr David Ball, Conjoint Professor Peter Greer |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $67,877 | 2012 | 2014 |
| GNo:G1200358 |
Implementation of EPID imaging infrastructure for research and development$27,560
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle
An adaptable and dedicated linear accelerator for medical radiation research$15,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Paul Keall, Associate Professor Michael Jackson, Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld, Professor Michael Barton, Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Dr Philip Vial, Professor Clive Baldock, Professor Peter Metcalfe, Professor David Thwaites, Dr Zdenka Kuncic, Dr Lois Holloway, Dr Stephen Bosi, Dr Enid Eslick, Mr Simon Downes |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Equipment Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $15,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100816 |
2011 (4 grants)
Does the initial treatment plan predict doses delivered to normal tissues during prostate radiation therapy$349,794
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Dr Jason Dowling, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham, Dr Olivier Salvado |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $349,794 | 2011 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1000377 |
A next generation detector for radiotherapy treatment verification with dual capability for simultaneous imaging and dosimetry$336,125
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $336,125 | 2011 | 2013 |
| GNo:178954900 |
The Pierre and Marie Curie GPU computing servers$27,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
PULSE Early Career Medical Researcher of the Year Award$10,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| PULSE Early Career Researcher Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $10,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1001047 |
2010 (5 grants)
Real-time dose monitoring for patient safety in radiation therapy$360,000
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Dr Boyd McCurdy, Dr Zdenka Kuncic, Professor Clive Baldock, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $360,000 | 2010 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0190320 |
Making radiotherapy safer and more accurate: Developing detector technology for the next generation in treatment verification systems$198,000
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Equipment Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $198,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:108514767 |
Adaptive Radiotherapy Incorporating Patient Dosimetry Feedback$120,000
Funding Body: Cancer Care Manitoba
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Cancer Care Manitoba Research Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $120,000 | 2010 | 2011 |
| GNo:108514775 |
Equipment to assess the accuracy of image-guided and advanced technology used in radiotherapy clinical trials$94,058
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Equipment Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $94,058 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:108514721 |
Investigation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prostate Radiation Therapy Planing (PHD Top-up)$40,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
2009 (3 grants)
Investigation of a new electronic portal imaging device for radiation therapy dose delivery$393,441
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Professor Clive Baldock, Dr Zdenka Kuncic, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $393,441 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188893 |
Improving patient outcomes of radiotherapy treatments$365,375
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $365,375 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:37269624 |
An investigation of adaptive radiation therapy for improved prostate cancer treatment outcomes$21,000
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Wig Week Research Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $21,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:110507110 |
2008 (2 grants)
An investigation of pre-treatment cone-beam CT and adaptive planning for improved prostate cancer radiotherapy$68,531
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Career Development Fellowship | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $68,531 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:110507162 |
Radiation therapy treatment planning research infrastructure$23,000
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Coalfields and Wig Week Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $23,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:110507150 |
2007 (5 grants)
High precision MRI based prostate radiotherapy$301,750
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham, Dr Sebastien Ourselin, Dr Martin Ebert, Doctor Trish Ostwald, Dr Peter Lau |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $301,750 | 2007 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0186637 |
Improving the Verification of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Dose Delivery with Flat-Panel Imagers$139,500
Funding Body: Cancer Council NSW
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Dr Martin Ebert, Mr Patrick Cadman, Professor Clive Baldock, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $139,500 | 2007 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0186639 |
On-line verification of patient dose delivery in radiotherapy$25,000
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Wig Week Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $25,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:110507191 |
Improving the verification of intensity modulated radiation therapy with flat panel imagers$23,196
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer, Professor Clive Baldock, Conjoint Professor Jim Denham |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $23,196 | 2007 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188380 |
Medical modelling computing grid$15,432
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Coalfields Equipment | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $15,432 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:110507205 |
2005 (2 grants)
NSW centre for research into quality of radiation therapy delivery$102,454
Funding Body: Cancer Institute NSW
Real-time dosimetry for intensity-modulated radiotherapy$9,000
Funding Body: Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Margaret Mitchell Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $9,000 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:110507235 |
2004 (2 grants)
Image-based in vivo patient and organ localisation in external beam radiotherapy$58,000
Funding Body: Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Conjoint Professor Peter Greer |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $58,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183186 |
Production of diagnostic-quality X-rays from a megavoltage radiotherapy beam$17,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team |
|---|
| Dr Martin Ebert, Conjoint Professor Peter Greer |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $17,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183750 |
EditResearch Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 5 |
|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 2.9 |
|---|
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed
Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | The Benefit of Endo-Rectal Balloons for Hypo-fractionated Prostate Radiotherapy |
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Investigations of EPID Based Dosimetry Methods for Use in MRI-Linac Radiotherapy |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Electrical Engineering) | Co-Supervisor | Development of Real-Time 3D Treatment Verification System using Electronic Portal Imaging Device (EPID) for Radiation Therapy |
| 2011 | 2015 | PhD (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Development of MRI atlas-based treatment planning including the patient movement factor in the adaptive radiotherapy. |
| 2008 | 2013 | PhD (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Investigation of Magnetic Resonance lmaging for Prostate Radiation Therapy Planning |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2013 | M Philosophy (Medical Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Development of Epid-Based Real-Time Dosimetry and Geometry in Radiation Therapy |
| 2012 | PhD (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Improvement of EPID-based Techniques for Dosimetry and Investigation of Linac Mechanical Performance in Advanced Radiotherapy |
| 2012 | PhD (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Investigation of a Modified Electronic Portal Imaging Device for Improving Dosimetry in Radiotherapy |
| 2011 | M Philosophy (Physics) | Principal Supervisor | Electronic Portal Imaging for Verification of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy |
