The Department of Radiation Oncology is home to a robust team of researchers and clinicians who work tirelessly to advance patient care through research supported by external grant funding, industry partnerships, and university wide collaborative efforts.
We are devoted to conducting translational research, a type of combined clinical and basic science investigation in which knowledge learned from the basic research in the laboratory with genes, cells, or animals is translated into therapeutic intervention in human subjects. Without translational research, much of what we have learned in the laboratory would not have been applied to the treatment of human cancers.
With the goal of discovering innovations in the treatment of cancer patients, the clinical research staff focuses on patient-oriented research, epidemiological and behavioral studies, and outcomes and health services research. The key areas of research include developing a robust case registry for radiotherapy patients, building remote capabilities for acute and long-term patient monitoring, and continued attention on health services research that focuses on issues of access, cost, quality and outcomes in healthcare. This research also extends to all cancer specialties in working to develop the best approaches for management of patients with metastatic disease.