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Clinical Research Radiation Oncology Fellowships - BC Cancer - Vancouver

2024/2025 Clinical Research Radiation Oncology Fellowships

BC Cancer – Vancouver and University of British Columbia – Radiation Therapy Program

Application deadline: July 1, 2023

 

BC Cancer manages a comprehensive cancer control program for the 5 million people of British Columbia. It operates six regional cancer centres in Abbotsford, Kelowna, Prince George, Surrey, Vancouver, and Victoria. Clinical Research Fellowships are available at each of the six centres. While all centres are focused on training fellows to deliver excellent clinical care, the focus in research varies by centre and may be tailored to the interests of the fellow.

 

BC Cancer – Vancouver is a full service cancer centre with strong medical oncology, surgical oncology, diagnostic imaging, pathology, oral oncology, supportive care and functional imaging services and an inpatient unit. It is one of the largest comprehensive cancer centers in Canada with 33 Radiation Oncologists, 10 General Practitioners in Oncology and 2 Nurse Practitioners. The department has a longstanding reputation for clinical excellence and academia. The facility has 10 linear accelerators (including a VERO machine with tumour tracking capability), a Cobalt machine, 2 CT simulators, an operating theater, and a brachytherapy suite. Vancouver is installing two new ETHOs machines in 2023. Vancouver has established programs in precision radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and brachytherapy and has broad research interests in all tumor sites and additional areas including health equity, indigenous cancer care, medical education and quality improvement.

 

BC Cancer – Vancouver will offer FOUR fellowships for 2024/2025.  

 

1)                      Prostate Cancer Fellowship

Project: OPTiMAL Pathology/PSMA PET/MRI correlations

Project Supervisor: Dr. Michael Peacock

Clinical Supervisors: Dr. Peacock, Dr. Keyes, Dr. Urban

 

The fellow will be involved in a clinical prostate fellowship with training in LDR brachytherapy. They will have the option to participate in a UBC and Royal College accredited Radiation Oncology Area of Focused Competency Program in Brachytherapy. Research activities will be focused on a single institution, phase II study, Optimizing Prostate cancer Treatment in Men with Advanced Local disease (OPTiMAL); this study uses advanced imaging (PSMA PET, and MRI) together with transperineal mapping biopsy to better delineate the location of the disease, to potentially modify the radiotherapy plan in an attempt to reduce side effects while maintaining the high biochemical progression free survival seen in ASCENDE RT. By 2024 there will be 25-30 patients ready for analysis. Additional areas of training and research may include prostate SABR and spacer gel insertions.

 

2)                      Precision Radiation Therapy (SABR) Fellowship

Project: Multi-center AI – “Fully-Automated Prognostic Imaging Biomarkers in Advanced Solid Tumors using Deep Learning”

Project and Clinical Supervisors: Dr. Mitchell Liu and Dr. Emma Dunne

 

The fellow will undertake a clinical fellowship treating all extra-cranial SABR (Liver, GI, Spine, Oligomets and Others), learning OAR prioritizing approaches, retreatment techniques and being involved in complex SABR cases.

The fellow will assist in research projects related to a multi-center AI project – “Fully-Automated Prognostic Imaging Biomarkers in Advanced Solid Tumors using Deep Learning”. Fellows may also have opportunities to be involved in development of technical projects including: CPAP use in lung/GI SABR, pre-op cholangiocarcinoma SABR in transplant setting, pre-op SABR in sarcoma, development of primary breast SABR protocols, and involvement in research on tumor growth rates dynamics in the setting of oligomets (including use of auto-segmentation). There is a role to further expand the spine SABR program including the development of pre-operative spine SABR. There will also be opportunities to get clinical trial experience due to a number of ongoing SABR specific trials recruiting or in development at the centre.

3)                      Two Clinical Fellowships matched to Candidate Interests and Department Needs

 

Two additional fellowships will be offered with balanced training in clinical radiation oncology and research. Clinical fellowships may be offered in almost any clinical site but may include Breast Cancer, Head and Neck Cancers, GU Cancers, GI Cancers, Lymphomas, and Pediatrics, for example.

There is an opportunity to combine clinical fellowships with research in medical education, health equity and access, planetary health, indigenous cancer care and quality improvement.

 

Fellowship candidates must be physicians who will have completed training in Radiation Oncology suitable to practice as a specialist in their home country and have demonstrated ability in basic or clinical research as evidenced in their CV. Fellows must be eligible to obtain an educational license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.

 

English proficiency is an important criterion for educational licensing; strong preference will be given to candidates who have successfully completed an English Language Proficiency test before applying, if one is required per College of Physicians & Surgeons of British Columbia. (https://www.cpsbc.ca/news/update-colleges-english-language-proficiency-requirements)

 

Preference is given to candidates who completed their residency in radiation oncology within the last 3 years.

 

Candidates should be looking for a one- or possibly two-year opportunity. The selected candidates will be expected to divide their time between clinical activities and research. Fellows will be registered as post-graduate trainees with the University of British Columbia (UBC).

 

Applications to our fellowship programs are provincially coordinated.

Eligible applicants should submit their Curriculum Vitae, contact information for 3 references, and cover letters noting specific application to BC-Cancer Vancouver.

 

 

For more information about BC Cancer, please visit the website at: www.bccancer.bc.ca

BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, which is committed to employment equity and hires on the basis of merit.  We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.