Assessing and improving first online adaptive proton therapy workflows of a clinic-industry consortium
- Planned secondments: Brainlab SE (Germany), Holland PTC (The Netherlands) and KU Leuven (Belgium)
- PhD program: OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Dresden
Project description
Proton therapy treatments of patients with lung cancer – the cancer type with the highest absolute mortality in Europe – are already today often adapted several times during the total treatment course. These and other patients with tumors in the thoracic-abdominal region could greatly benefit from an immediate adaptation, when it is (1) really indicated and (2) performed in efficient online-adaptive proton therapy (OAPT) workflows. The clinic-academia-industry consortium ProtOnART is currently working towards showcasing their first OAPT implementations for oesophageal and lung cancer patients in the proton therapy centres in Leuven (Belgium) and Dresden (Germany).
The project aims to assess and further develop the OAPT workflow efficiency in Dresden with a focus on time reduction at all key steps of the treatment pathway. The tasks include the establishment of automated treatment session documentations for the retrospective assessment of the workflow performance and the identification (plus solving) of critical obstacles during first clinical applications in Dresden also in comparison to experiences at the partner site in Leuven.
In addition, the doctoral candidate will specifically work towards an automated decision support system for online adaptation with regard to economic factors and clinical measures, such as tumour-site-specific NTCP. They will also conduct research on novel, fast optimisation strategies. By gaining insight into and supporting the clinical implementation of the first ProtOnART OAPT workflow, the candidate will strengthen the connection between ProtOnART and RAPTORplus.
The selected secondments will support both the knowledge acquisition and the application of the gained expertise by the doctoral candidate: (1) Get to know industry solutions supporting precise radiotherapy of lung lesions at Brainlab SE, (2) Learn about metrics for the effectiveness assessment of adaptive proton therapy of lung lesions at Holland PTC, and (3) Apply OAPT efficacy assessment metrics/tool to other cancer site at KU Leuven.
The student will work at OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Reasearch in Oncology (Dresden), under the supervision of Dr. Kristin Stützer, and will graduate from the TUD Dresden University of Technology.
For more information concerning the research project please contact:
Kristin Stützer
Candidate profile
Doctoral Candidate at OncoRay - HZDR
We are searching for a talented candidate with:
- A Master’s degree or an equivalent title in the field of Physics, Medical Physics, Medical Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Data Science or any related field
- High motivation to perform research at the academia-clinic-industry interface
- Profound knowledge in the field of proton therapy and familiarity with clinical radiotherapy workflows
- Strong analytical thinking and excellent problem-solving skills
- Solid programming skills and interest to apply it for automation, data analysis and modelling
- Knowledge in machine learning and affinity to apply this in the radiotherapy field is an asset
- Independent, pro-active, structured and solution-oriented work attitude
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Enjoyment to work as a real team player within a group of multidisciplinary professionals
- Proficiency in spoken and written English
- Proof of vaccination / immunization status (against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A/B, chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio) before official recruitment date
The candidate profits from our additional offers:
- A full-time position for 3 years with full social security coverage and 30 days of paid annual holiday leave
- Taking part in qualification courses of the Graduate Academy of the TU Dresden
- Support for a good work-life balance with the possibility of temporal part-time employment, of mobile working and flexible working hours
- Numerous company health management offerings
- Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
- An employer subsidy for the “Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket”
OncoRay - HZDR
PROJECT BENEFICIARY
OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology is a joint cancer research platform of the Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf, the TUD Dresden University of Technology and the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus. OncoRay brings together cancer researchers from different disciplines and institutions for the benefit of patients. Its scientists are pursuing the vision of significantly improving the treatment of cancer by administering biologically personalised and technically optimised radiation therapy.