• Home
• About Us
• Employment
• Centre News & Events
• Related Links
• Contact
• Sitemap

• Information for Patients
• Information for Professionals
• Make an Enquiry/Refer a Patient

Research and Development

Medical Physics Research and Development

The Medical Physics research and development programs at PRO are driven strongly by current and future clinical needs, with an emphasis placed on developing efficient and effective treatment modalities for our current patients as well as researching new techniques that we expect to be used several years in the future.

PRO has highly qualified and competent peer support for research and development that is provided by three senior Medical Physics staff who hold doctoral degrees and adjunct or honourary university appointments at the University of Western Australia, Monash University and Universiti Malaya. One other senior member of staff is in the final stages of his doctoral candidature and we currently have one full-time PhD student working on a radiobiology research project. The research and development programmes are actively managed and have substantially increased the breadth of treatment modalities that can be offered by PRO, including new superficial treatments (tin foil electrons and HDR brachytherapy) and other specialised treatments (e.g. treatment for cancer of the conjunctiva).

Areas of interest for current research and development include:

• Dosimetry of Odd MLC Defined Field Shapes on Elekta Linacs
• Linearity of Ion Recombination and Other Chamber Correction Factors
• Development of a Monte Carlo Benchmark for Clinical Electron Beams
• Monte Carlo Calculation of Electron Applicator Leakage on Elekta Linacs
• Superficial X-Ray Therapy Machine Troubleshooting
• Validation of HandCalc Correction Rules
• Accurate Quantitative Map of Dose Distribution Beneath Leipzig Skin Cones
• Evaluation and Development of Ocular Brachytherapy
• In-Vivo Determination of Prosthetic Materials and Dosimetric Corrections in Treatment Planning
• Radiobiology of Connected Interacting Cells and Microbeam Irradiation
• Evaluation of Electronic Portal Imaging for Measuring Dose
• Implementation of IMRT in Specialised Sites

---

Research committee of Perth Radiation Oncology

Perth Radiation Oncology Research committee encompasses a dedicated group of investigators and support staff with a special interest in conducting and overseeing all research (both clinical and non-clinical) in the department. Representatives from our major sub-departments sit on the committee which meets once per month. The committee co-ordinate and conduct clinical trials and audits involving patients recruited from Perth Radiation Oncology (both Wembley and Royal Perth Hospital sites).

Members of the research committee:

• Dr Yvonne Zissiadis MBBS, FRANZCR (Chairperson)
• Dr Tee-Sin Lim MBBS, FRANZCR
• Dr Chris Harper MBBS, FRANZCR
• Dr Jerry Freund MBBS, FRANZCR
• Sharon Brackenridge (Head of Radiation Therapy Education)
• Dr Sean Geoghegan PhD, MACPSEM (Medical Physics)
• Dominic Zucaro (Chief Radiation Therapist)
• Elizabeth Kearney (Data Research Nurse)

---

Our Mission:

To encourage and promote research in both clinical and non-clinical areas within Radiation Oncology. Thereby achieving better health outcomes for patients with cancer receiving radiation therapy.

---

Recent Publications from Perth Radiation Oncology:

1. Lim TS, Petersen V, Zissiadis Y. "Computerized tomography planning for breast cancer" Accepted for publication by Australasian Radiology 2006
2. ZissiadisY, Harper E, Kearney E, MacDonald L, Provis A, Dhaliwal S. "Patient Satisfaction in Radiation Oncology" Australasian Radiology 2006; 50(5):412-418
3. ZissiadisY, Harper E, Harper C. "Development of a clinical chart audit programme in Radiation Oncology" Australasian Radiology 2006; 50(4):349-354
4. Woodings SJ. "Radiation protection recommendations for I-131 thyrotoxicosis, thyroid cancer and phaeochromocytoma patients", Australasian Physical and Engingeering Sciences in Medicine 2004 27:118-128
5. Boeing N, Geoghegan DS and Ebert MA. "Endovascular brachytherapy: dosimetry and dose-area analysis of various radiation sources", Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine 2001, 24:63-70
6. Geoghegan DS, Skinner-Adams T and Davis TME. "Plasmodium falciparum: Isolate-specific radiosensitivity" Experimental Parasitology 2001, 99:108-110
7. Sia S, Harper C, McAllister I and Perry AM. "Iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy in uveal melanoma", Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2000, 28:409-413
8. Sia S, Harper C, McAllister I and Perry AM. "Treatment of choroidal melanoma by stereotactic radiosurgery", Australasian Radiology 2000, 44:338-340
9. Ebert MA, Perry AM and Harper CS. "Implementation of a stereotactic radiotherapy system", Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine 1999, 22:145-152
10. Richards, Josephine C FRANZCO 1; Roden, Dermot FRANZCO 1; Harper, Christopher S FRANZCR 2 "Management of sight-threatening optic nerve sheath meningioma with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy". Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 33(2):137-141, April 2005.

Completed trials:

• Assessment of global satisfaction with a Radiation Oncology Outpatient service. This study targeted over 500 new patients seen at Perth Radiation Oncology. Patients completed questionnaire assessing their outpatient experience and their satisfaction with the treating Radiation Oncologist.
• Impact of more intensive information in patients having Radiation Therapy: results of a prospective randomized phase III trial.

Collaborations:

Perth Radiation Oncology has established both national and international collaborations with a number of co-operative groups in order to participate in and contribute to clinical research trials around Australia and Internationally. These groups include:

• Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG)
• National Cancer Institute of Canada clinical trials group (oesophageal trial)
• International breast cancer study group (Breast trials)
• Australian Gastro-Intestinal Tumour Group
• Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG)