Breur Award
Monday 5 May | 14:15-14:40 | Plenary Hall
Interview with Corinne Faivre-Finn
recipient of the Breur Award at ESTRO 2025
Corinne Faivre-Finn - The University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
What have been the highlights of your career?
A first highlight of my career was the move to an academic post in 2013, which gave me the time and space to properly develop a research career. Until then, I had worked mostly in the clinic and part-time overall, so this transition marked a significant turning point. It opened the door to leading clinical trials and taking on leadership roles in international organisations such as EORTC, ESTRO, and IASLC. These organisations were instrumental in my development, offering mentorship and a professional network that I lacked within my own institution at the time.
One of the great honours of my career was receiving the IASCLC Jim Cox Award in 2019 and the Honorary Physicist Award from ESTRO in 2022. These recognitions are deeply meaningful, but when I reflect on what I am truly proud of, it goes beyond awards.
I am especially proud of the clinical trials I have led or contributed to, particularly in small cell lung cancer, a disease with significant unmet needs. Many of these trials have led to practice-changing outcomes and shaped international guidelines. But research for me has always been about collaboration. I am proud to have made meaningful contributions to several Trial Management Groups and played a key role in the recruitment of pivotal radiotherapy studies in lung cancer. The partnerships I have built with colleagues and organisations have not only advanced the work but have also led to lasting friendships and mutual learning.
I am also proud of contributions to methodological innovation in radiotherapy, including real-world studies like RAPID-RT, the development and integration of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROMs) at The Christie on a large scale, and my role as co-chief investigator of the novel Phase I CONCORDE platform combining radiotherapy with DDRi agents.
What is your next challenge?
The biggest challenge I, and many of my colleagues, face in the academic world is inspiring and developing the academic workforce of the future. We are currently facing a major crisis in the UK and across Europe: a growing shortage of clinical academics. Now in my mid-50s, I am keen to focus the next phase of my career on mentoring and nurturing the next generation of clinicians and researchers.
I have a particular interest in supporting early-career researchers, especially women, as they navigate the often-complex demands of academia, clinical practice and their personal lives. This stems from my own experience, early in my career, I lacked the kind of guidance and support I now strive to provide. Balancing the dual demands of a clinical and research career alongside family responsibilities was undeniably challenging. However, I have learnt that not only is it possible, but it can also be deeply rewarding. I am committed to sharing the lessons and strategies I have acquired along the way with those at the start of their journey.
Mentorship and sponsorship, creating meaningful opportunities, and championing diversity in leadership are now central priorities for me. It is a challenge, but also one of the most fulfilling aspects of my role. Seeing others grow, thrive, and contribute to the field gives me immense satisfaction and real hope for the future of academic medicine.
What do you think are the next challenges in your field?
The biggest next challenge in radiation oncology is, undeniably, embedding AI into radiotherapy practice. While the potential is enormous, from improving efficiency to enhancing personalisation of treatment, there are significant hurdles we need to overcome.
Training is a major issue. We need to ensure that clinicians, physicists, RTTs and the broader multidisciplinary team have the knowledge and confidence to understand, evaluate, and safely implement AI tools. Trust is another critical barrier, AI must be transparent, explainable, and rigorously validated if it is to be accepted in clinical decision-making. Governance is equally important. We need robust frameworks to ensure that AI is introduced safely, ethically, and with clear accountability.
The potential is there, but realising it will require careful, collaborative work across technical, clinical, and regulatory domains. But with thoughtful implementation, AI has the potential to enhance, not replace, human expertise and free up capacity for the aspects of our roles that matter most such as direct clinical care, education, quality improvement projects and, of course, research.
And as for radiation oncologists being replaced by bots, don’t worry, one of the senior Parisian professors I trained under was told in the 1960s that he would be out of a job by the end of his career. Now, I hear some people saying the same thing, but I personally believe they are wrong. Our specialty will evolve, but it certainly will not disappear!
What does the award mean to you?
When I first received the email from ESTRO in April 2024 informing me that I had been awarded the Breur Award, my initial reaction was: What on earth is the Breur Award? That moment of ignorance did not last long. Once I fully grasped the significance of this honour, I was genuinely moved.
Recognition matters, it validates the work we do, the choices we make, and the impact we strive to have. It also sends an important message to others, that this kind of recognition is possible and worth aspiring to, particularly for women, who are still underrepresented at senior leadership levels in medicine and academia. For me, this award is deeply personal. It represents a journey that has been anything but linear, full of challenges and perseverance, but ultimately incredibly rewarding.
More than that, it shines a light on the role of women in oncology and radiotherapy, fields where leadership has long been male dominated. When I looked at the list of previous Breur Award recipients, I was struck to realise I am only the fifth woman to receive this honour since 1982. Think about that. It is a sobering reminder of a truth we often acknowledge quietly but not loudly enough: that women remain underrepresented in leadership, in recognition, and in shaping the future of our field.
This must change, and that’s why I chose to focus my ESTRO Breur award talk on this very topic ‘Women in leadership: shaping the future’. The good news is change is happening. Women in leadership are no longer just participating in the future of oncology; we are helping define it. But real leadership means continuing to push for visibility, equity, and opportunity for all. My hope is that the next time someone stands here to receive the Breur Award, gender will no longer be noteworthy, but simply a footnote in history.
What has been your involvement within ESTRO?
Throughout my involvement with ESTRO, I have had the privilege of holding several roles.
Since 2023, I have served as the Chair of the ESTRO Lung Focus Group, leading efforts to advance research and clinical practices in lung cancer radiotherapy. I am particularly proud of the Lung Mentorship Program initiative developed by the group, which aims to support early-career professionals in the field and foster the next generation of leaders in lung cancer radiotherapy.
I have also been a member of the ESTRO Clinical Committee, which plays a crucial role in shaping clinical guidelines and promoting best practices in radiation oncology across Europe. Through these positions, I have contributed to advancing the quality and safety of radiotherapy treatments, while fostering collaboration and supporting educational initiatives within the field. Additionally, I have contributed to several ESTRO Scientific Advisory Groups, helping to develop the programme for the annual ESTRO meeting and ensuring it reflects the latest advancements and key topics in radiation oncology.
Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to contribute to several ACROP (ESTRO’s Advisory Committee on Radiotherapy Practice) guidelines in lung cancer, helping to shape best practices in the field.
Beyond these formal roles, my involvement with ESTRO has provided me with an incredible network of professionals from across the globe. Through ESTRO, I have developed collaborations that have enriched my research and clinical practice, while also forming long-lasting friendships. The shared knowledge and dedication to advancing radiation oncology have been deeply rewarding, and I continue to be inspired by the passionate individuals I have had the opportunity to work with.
To whom would you like to dedicate your award?
Although I am a strong advocate for women, I dedicate this award to the men in my life.
First, to my lovely husband Kevin, who has always encouraged and supported me, especially when I made the pivotal decision to transition from a clinical to an academic post.
To my two sons, Alex and Max, who fill my life with love and pride.
To my late father Jean and grandfather Pierre, who were constant sources of inspiration throughout my childhood and career.