In Radiation Oncology, one patient's care is managed by many: radiation oncologists (doctors), medical physics specialists, radiation therapists and nurses. Administration staff manage the complex task of fitting in so many people to receive their treatment and follow-up, and Clinical Trials Coordinators make sure that when study participants agree to take part in a trial, they know what to expect.

Our Aim:

To be a national and international leader in radiation research.

Our Strategies:

  • Continued research infrastructure, including research-dedicated staff and funding
  • Define and support Priority Areas
  • Provide structure and strategy to progressing projects
  • Broad engagement of staff
  • Research as part of core service delivery
  • External engagement

Our Research Priority Areas:

Support promising areas; championed by staff with specific expertise in –

  • Imaging, using technologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET),
  • Radiation Therapy with particular focus on Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and treatment verification,
  • Radiobiology, and
  • Clinical trials.

Each time a patient requires care, they undergo scanning and review by a range of specialists with expertise in the type and location of tumour; detailed planning and evaluation of treatment; and follow-up care. Each patient has an individual workflow, to which each member of their care team contributes – what needs to be done and why, what has been done and how, what are the outcomes (how well is the patient?).

We acknowledge that every patient is different; and that the advances being made in technology need to be matched with great effort to ensure that the treatment being delivered is appropriate for each individual.

The research undertaken in Radiation Oncology at Calvary Mater Newcastle often involves trials of treatment options, which require the collaboration of many sites, health professionals, biomedical scientists and patient participants.

We also run studies into the more personal needs of patients -

  • because having a visibly-noticeable illness or scar can have psychological effects
  • new dressings might reduce infection and encourage better healing
  • the pain and anxiety felt by patients and their loved ones is very real
  • treatments are much-improved, and so our patients have better chances of a long and productive life - but what kind of life do they want, after-cancer?

Our research is person-focused, yet strategically driven. Our Director of Research and Research Coordinator (Clinician-Researcher Education, Development and Support) foster clinically-driven research; facilitate multi-disciplinary collaboration; mentor registrars, research higher degree students and early career researchers; provide backup to more experienced researchers; and assist in the implementation of research-driven advances in this very clinical setting.

Together with our multi-disciplinary colleagues, we have a sense of pride in the work being done and enthusiasm for the future of research in this most important field.

Researchers in the Centre for Clinical Radiation Research can be found on the research pages of the Calvary Mater Newcastle.

Our research and trials often requires the collaboration of many sites, health professionals, biomedical scientists and patient participants. We partner with the below organisations:

The research of the Centre for Clinical Radiation Research is undertaken in the Radiation Oncology department at the Calvary Mater Newcastle. The achievements and outcomes of the 40 trials which are currently being conducted by the centre in collaboration with other sites is listed in the Calvary Mater Annual Reports.

Centre for Clinical Radiation Research
RadiationOncologyResearch@CalvaryMater.org.au