PhD studentship at The Institute of Cancer Research – Enabling better reporting of outcomes for breast cancer radiotherapy trials

Project: Enabling better reporting of outcomes for breast cancer radiotherapy trials

Host University and Department: The Institute of Cancer Research, Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit (ICR-CTSU)

Successful candidates will undertake a three-year research training programme as part of an exciting collaboration between the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) funded Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR-CTSU) and the CRUK Cambridge Centre under the supervision of Professor Judith Bliss and Professor Charlotte Coles, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Project background:

Technology-enabled data collection is a rapidly-developing field in routine clinical practice and within clinical trials. This has primarily two strands i) collecting data directly from patients via electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) using technology-based user friendly solutions such as smartphone apps, and ii) emerging opportunities for trials to link with routinely-collected NHS data. Whilst the merits of the goal are obvious, achieving that goal is challenging for multiple reasons. These include governance / data access issues and difficulties with collection of recurrence data from routine sources for cancer clinical trials. In addition, the ePRO is not always user-friendly or deemed cost effective or sufficiently inclusive for the trial-specific patient population and/or type of data being requested.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people’s technological capabilities. It is therefore pertinent to appraise what good adaptations for clinical care and trial conduct will endure and how this may help data outcome ascertainment for cancer clinical trials, using breast radiotherapy trials as the context for this specific project.

The project is part of a wider programme of work within ICR-CTSU into assessing trial outcomes including ePRO and linkage with routine data. It builds on existing knowledge and infrastructure to allow specific focus on the type of data required for breast radiotherapy trials where data is collected on side-effects including pain and change in breast appearance, both aspects which could be enhanced by use of digital technology.

Background of student:

Candidates must already have been awarded a first-class or second upper class honours degree in Mathematics, Statistics or other relevant data or research methodology. A Master’s degree or equivalent in Medical Statistics and / or Medical Informatics or a related quantitative discipline, or experience of working in clinical trials would be highly desirable.

Closing date: 22nd November 2020

Anticipated start date: January 2021

To explore further and apply for the studentship, please visit:

PhD proposal – Enabling better reporting of outcomes for breast cancer radiotherapy trials The Institute of Cancer Research PHD STUDENTSHIP PROJECT PROPOSAL: PROJECT DETAILS Project Title: Enabling better reporting of

FindAPhD.com – Enabling better reporting of outcomes for breast cancer radiotherapy trials Enabling better reporting of outcomes for breast cancer radiotherapy trials at Institute of Cancer Research on FindAPhD.com

Nuria Porta PhD | Principal Statistician
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