Radiation Oncology research
Alfred Health Radiation Oncology is a major service with treatment facilities at The Alfred (ARO) and LaTrobe Regional Hospital, Gippsland (GRO).
About our research
Clinical research in a radiotherapy setting looks to improve patient treatments, care and outcomes.
We do this by conducting research on new treatments, new equipment and new ways of working.
Research can be both:
- Retrospective - looking back at data we have collected in the past
- Prospective - collecting data from today and into the future
Much of our research involves clinical trials - comparing new treatments with current treatments in a controlled and safe manner.
Find out more about Radiation Oncology clinical trials.
Current research projects
We are currently conducting the following research projects:
- Review of patient outcomes after total body irradiation from two large centres with different practices
- A biochemical definition of cure following brachytherapy for prostate cancer
- Dosimetric verification and nanoparticle dose enhancement of synchrotron microbeams
- Development of real time source tracking systems and dosimetric verification techniques for high dose rate brachytherapy
- LDR Brachytherapy Calibration Inter-comparison
- Long Term Stability of a HDR Brachytherapy Well Chamber
- Metal Artefact Reduction Algorithm Analysis
- Dose-response models of urethral strictures for prostate patients treated with HDR brachytherapy boost
- Predictive Modelling for Radiotherapy Treatment Planning and Dose Escalation in Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer (Predict-PCa/RT Protocol)
- Using deep learning with MRI scanning to improve diagnosis and management of brain tumours
- Visualisation of the oesophagus on cone-beam computed tomography with oral contrast during radiotherapy to the chest
- 3D printing in radiotherapy
- Dosimetric impact of catheter displacement
- Target coverage and organs-at-risk (OAR) doses of the left breast in female lung cancer patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) but not in deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH)
- Exhale breath hold in liver
- An investigation of parameters affecting grid size dependence in dose distributions
Our achievements
- First centre in the world to have real time treatment verification imaging for high dose rate brachytherapy
- First centre in Victoria to deliver stereotactic intracranial radiosurgery and radiotherapy treatment (ARO)
- First centre in Asia-Pacific to receive the Novalis Certification of the stereotactic program. Received re-certification in 2020 (ARO)
- First centre in Victoria to deliver permanent radioactive seed implants for prostate cancer (ARO)
- First Australian centre to employ electronic portal imaging (digital real-time imaging that replaced x-ray film) to verify treatment delivery (ARO)
- First Australian centre with AlignRT surface-guided imaging (ARO); with Gippsland Radiation Oncology the first regional centre to use AlignRT technology
- First centre in Australia to enable skin mark-free set ups using SGRT (ARO/GRO)
- Established 3D printing program for tissue equivalent accessories to aid in treatment
- Second site in Victoria to implement Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (GRO)
Our partners
Publications
Espensen CA, Kilgaard JF, Appelt AL, Fog LS, Herault J, Maschi C, Caujolle JP, Thariat J
(2021), Ophthalmology, 128(1), 152-61
Koo K, Ward R, Smith RL, Ruben J, Carne PWG, Elsaleh H
(2021), PLoS one, 16(6), e0254018
Hoeben BA, Wong JY, Fog LS, Losert C, Filippi AR, Bentzen SM, Balduzzi A, Specht L
(2021), Front Pediatr, 9, 774348