Chair, Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy (CT-Rad) Research Group

Chair, CT-RAD Research Group

Host organisation: Macmillan Cancer Support

Commitment: Monthly meetings, regular liaison with secretariat, and any other appropriate delegations agreed by the committee

Term: 2 years

Remuneration: None as this is a voluntary position (reasonable expenses covered)

About the Group

The Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy (CT‑RAD) Research Group is a national multidisciplinary leadership forum that develops and drives a radiotherapy research agenda to improve treatment effectiveness, safety, patient experience, and long‑term outcomes. The Group shapes a UK-wide portfolio of innovative radiotherapy studies across conventional, advanced, and novel radiotherapy modalities.

CT‑RAD also provides national leadership for proton beam therapy (PBT) research – supporting the development of robust, patient‑focused trials as UK PBT capability expands.

The Group is hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support on behalf of the UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research (UKCCCR/UK3CR). CT‑RAD works with clinicians, physicists, radiographers, researchers, trial units, industry partners (where appropriate), and patient advocates to build a cohesive, sustainable community that advances radiotherapy research.

CT‑RAD operates through four workstreams:

1. Translational Research
2. Clinical Trials
3. Technology and Innovation
4. Proton Beam Therapy

Purpose of the Role

The Chair will provide visible, inclusive leadership to the CT‑RAD Research Group – setting strategic direction, enabling a coordinated national portfolio, and driving high‑quality radiotherapy research across all modalities and workstreams.

They will champion scientific excellence, cross‑disciplinary collaboration, methodological rigour, and strong patient involvement, ensuring that UK radiotherapy research remains internationally competitive and clinically relevant.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Shape, communicate, and periodically refresh CT‑RAD’s 3–5‑year strategic priorities, aligned with national radiotherapy needs, technological development, and service evolution. Ensure integration and alignment across the four workstreams.
• Portfolio stewardship: Support development of a coordinated clinical research portfolio of radiotherapy trials; surface gaps, avoid duplication, and multi‑centre collaboration and early‑career researcher involvement
• Methodological guidance: Promote excellence in radiotherapy science, including imaging, treatment planning, adaptive therapy, molecular radiotherapy, translational science, and computational/AI‑based approaches.
• Patient & public involvement: Embed patient representatives as equal partners; co‑produce agendas, decisions, and outputs with the PPIE community.
• Partnerships & representation: Act as an ambassador for CT‑RAD across NHS, academic, UKRI/NIHR infrastructures, international radiotherapy networks, learned societies, and (where appropriate) industry.
• Meetings & governance: Chair regular Group meetings; ensure inclusive participation, clear decisions, action tracking, and transparent documentation aligned to the Group’s ToR.
• Capacity‑building: Support development of radiotherapy research capability across professions—clinical oncology, medical physics, therapeutic radiography, data science, and translational science. Champion mentorship and opportunities for early‑career researchers.
• Dissemination & impact: Promote uptake of findings into practice/policy; support lay‑friendly communications and accessible outputs.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Established expertise in radiotherapy – clinical, technical, physics‑based, biological, or translational.
• Proven leadership in radiotherapy research (e.g., CI/PI roles, multicentre trials, translational programmes, guideline or consensus development).
• Strong understanding of radiotherapy methodology, RTQA, and trial delivery across the UK.
• Demonstrated commitment to patient‑centred research and co‑production with PPIE partners.
• Inclusive, collaborative leadership style; ability to work across disciplines and organisations.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and strategic planning skills.

Desirable:

• Experience chairing multidisciplinary boards/committees.
• National or international collaborations in radiotherapy, proton therapy, or related science.
• Experience engaging with charities and/or industry partners within research integrity frameworks.

What We Offer

• An influential platform to shape UK radiotherapy research and contribute to a high‑impact national strategy.
• A dedicated secretariat and infrastructure (Teams channels, action logs, shared documents).
• A multidisciplinary network spanning oncology, physics, radiography, computational science, trial units, and patient partners.
• Opportunities to amplify UK radiotherapy research internationally.

Recruitment Process

Application deadline: 23:59 on Wednesday 20th May
Provisional interview dates: Online interviews will take place on 27th May

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. 

We are an organisation that is committed to setting candidates up for success, so we can support you to be at your best during the application or selection process, please contact Macmillan TA Team TATeam@macmillan.org.uk for advice, or a conversation on reasonable adjustments.

We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities. We particularly encourage interest from candidates who bring diverse perspectives and lived experience into radiotherapy research. We will make reasonable adjustments throughout the process.