Overview

Research is the cornerstone of any major academic center. The University of Cincinnati is ranked 40 ^th among research medical schools, with the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital awarded nearly $200 million dollars in research funding last year.

Clinical, translational, and basic science research are integral components of the Department of Radiation Oncology. With the only proton gantry dedicated to research in the world, our trainees and faculty have access to exclusive research opportunities and collaborations.

The Clinical Radiation Oncology residency program at the University of Cincinnati Barrett Cancer Center is no exception. We participate in national NRG Oncology trials through our Clinical Trials Office, enrolling heavily in head and neck and gynecology trials. A number of our faculty members are PIs on investigator-initiated trials ranging from proton therapy for anal cancer and early stage breast cancer to a trial combining definitive treatment for larynx cancer with immunotherapy.We collaborate with our colleagues at the UC/Cincinnati Children’s Proton Center, and hosted PTCOG in 2018.

Faculty are engaged at the national level. Our senior leadership is comprised of Dr. Barrett who is known nationally as the Director of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. Two faculty serve as editors for the IJROBP. In addition, faculty have leadership roles within the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and NRG Oncology for the Head and Neck, Gastrointestinal, and Thoracic committees. Multiple faculty are current or former examiners for the American Board of Radiology Oral Examination. We additionally collaborate strongly with our colleagues in Hematology Oncology,  Surgical Oncology and Cancer Biology.

Residents are also encouraged to pursue independent research projects under faculty mentorship through 8 months of elective time. These have previously resulted in grant funding, independent protocols, national and international oral and poster presentations, and numerous manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. Residents have the opportunity to present their research annually, receiving critical feedback from the faculty and their peers. Each resident completes at least one research project during residency.

Knowledge is Power

Our Radiation Oncology Faculty and Residents had the opportunity to impart knowledge to the medical community by presenting their research findings at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 65th annual meeting in October 2023. 

You can find a brief synopsis of their research here.

 

"If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"  ~Albert Einstein

Division of Research Newsletter

Our newsletter is a publication for alumni, current employees and friends of the UC Department of Radiation Oncology.

Please send comments and story ideas to Hope Esslinger, at goodmahr@ucmail.uc.edu or call 513-584-8238.