Course director 

• Ben Heijmen, Physicist, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam (NL)

Teachers

• Claudio Fiorino, Physicist, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan (IT) 
• Mischa Hoogeman, Physicist, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam (NL) 
• Oliver Jäkel, Physicist, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg (DE) 
• Eirik Malinen, Physicist, DNR - Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo (NO)
• Uwe Oelfke, Physicist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London (UK) 
• Ann Henry, Clinical oncologist, University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
• Uulke van der Heide, Physicist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL) 
• Peter van Luijk, Physicist, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen ( NL)

Local organiser 

TBC

Prior to the course, each attendant submits an initial proposal for a research project they would like to pursue. These projects can be small, or large in scope, for example, aiming at a scientifically sound and interesting presentation at the local or national level, an abstract for a national or international congress, a scientific paper, or even a project grant proposal. All project proposals are further improved under the supervision of a team of internationally renowned scientists. By discussing the proposals in small groups in a safe and friendly atmosphere, based on short PowerPoint presentations, participants will learn by example from their peers and the attending faculty how to transform an initial research idea into a sound and successful project with scientific output. Leading questions during the discussions include: ”How can we improve the project to enhance interest of the target audience?”, “What is the precise research hypothesis and can it be fine-tuned to enhance interest e.g., by upgrading novelty, impact/relevance and urgency of expected outcomes?”, “How can the applied methodology be improved?”, “Is the proposal feasible (in the participant’s working environment), and how can risks be reduced or mitigated?”. During the course, participants work on improving their projects by updating their PowerPoint presentation, based on input received during the discussions, and if desired, through one-to-one discussions with the faculty or peers.

In addition to project development, expert faculty members will give lectures on a broad range of radiotherapy research topics to highlight current trends and discuss important unresolved issues with future research opportunities. Some general aspects of scientific research, such as paper and grant writing, will also be covered by lectures.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course participants should be able to

• Critically evaluate and enhance the quality of research projects, concerning novelty, potential impact/relevance, urgency and feasibility and risk, taking into account the defined target audience.
• Effectively discuss research ideas/projects with colleagues to maximize scientific value.
• Discuss current trends and research opportunities in radiotherapy physics and related technical fields.

Course content

1. Discussions on research projects submitted by participants, aiming at improving the projects, and to learn, by example from peers and the expert faculty, how to turn research ideas into successful projects.

2. Lectures 

   • Trends, unresolved issues and research opportunities in:

     1. MR imaging in radiotherapy

     2. PET imaging in radiotherapy

     3. IGRT and adaptive therapy to compensate for anatomical variations

     4. Dose response modelling

     5. Biophysics in radiotherapy

     6. Brachytherapy physics

     7. Treatment planning

     8. Radiotherapy dosimetry

     9. Grid/lattice RT and FLASH

     10. Particle beam therapy

   • Tips and tricks for writing a successful grant proposal

   • Tips and tricks for writing a scientific paper and have it accepted

Methods of assessment

Evaluation form.

Teaching methods

• ~ 2.5 days for further developing submitted research proposals as summarized in a Powerpoint presentation, based on discussions in small groups and one-to-one discussions with faculty and peers.

• ~ 1 days of lectures on the latest developments and knowledge gaps in fast developing subfields of radiotherapy physics

Key words

• Research,

• Physics,

• Imaging science,

• Computer science,

• Mathematics,

• Biophysics

Accreditation

Application for CPD recognition n is submitted to the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP), as a CPD event for medical physicists. Information on the status of the applications can be obtained from the ESTRO office.

The preliminary programme will be made available soon.

HOW TO APPLY AND REGISTER

Attendance to the course requires submission of a proposal for a research project. Proposals can be on large or small projects, advanced or more basic technology, clinically oriented research or more basic research. Basically, the only condition is that the proposal is about performing research in radiotherapy physics or a related field.

Submitted research proposals must be in pdf format with a maximum 750 words. Please strictly adhere to the following format: 

1. Title

2. Name and affiliation of investigator

3. Research hypothesis, and/or expected outcome and/or conclusions

4. Background of the research: demonstrate the need/opportunity/wish for doing it

5. Materials and Methods

6. Target audience

7. Expected scientific output (presentation at a local meeting, abstract to be submitted for a conference, peer-reviewed paper, ….)

A brief CV is also needed (pdf, max 500 words).

The research proposal and CV need to be submitted at the latest by Thursday, May 1, 2025, by sending them to the course Project manager, Martina Hristova (mailto:mhristova@estro.org).

For each submission, the course director will verify whether:

1. the proposed research topic is suitable for the course (radiotherapy physics or a related field)

2. the research proposal is clear and formatted as described above.

With a positive verification, the applicant will be informed and be sent a link to pay the registration fee . Due to the nature of this course, the number of participants is limited to 32. Selection of projects will be on a first come, first served basis, using the moment of submission deadline of the proposals.

BEFORE COMING TO THE COURSE

Prior to coming to the course, participants should prepare a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation on the proposed research project (use the format also used for the proposal (above)). The pptx will be presented during the course and will be the basis for further improvement of the proposal.

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Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2025 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In-Training fee

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policy. ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take insurance policies to cover flight and accommodation cancellation penalties. ESTRO will not refund any travel or accommodation expenses.

For any cancellation made by the course or workshop participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted when the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2025 are eligible (please make sure your 2025 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  

 Please note:

• We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course