I’ve been interested in research for a long time. To begin with, this was encompassed within my job role delivering radiotherapy (this will be the case for a lot of staff) and then I moved into a research based post over at the CCTC on a project called VoxTox.
Within this programme I’ve been involved in the development of the research protocol and data systems, going through ethics and setting up the study, talking to patients about the study, receiving their consent, collecting and analysing the research data.
Within the programme I have independently researched several sub-studies, these include: rates of acute toxicity in patients with head and neck cancer being treated with image guided intensity modulated radiotherapy and also in those being treated for prostate cancer. These findings have been presented at a national and international level. I have applied to the NIHR funding for a clinical doctoral fellowship and I am awaiting shortlisting.