ESTRO 2025 Congress report I RTT Pre-meeting course

The radiation therapist (RTT) pre-meeting course at ESTRO 2025 was a dynamic, full-day event that brought together RTTs to strengthen their research skills, foster their collaboration and overcome real-world challenges in clinical research.

This course was led by Aileen Duffton (Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, UK) and Rita Simões (University College London Hospital, UK). Together, they created a programme that fostered critical thinking, collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose among the participants.

Several key topics were addressed

1. Multidisciplinary Research and Leadership
Dr Luca Boldrini emphasised that research in radiation oncology is inherently multidisciplinary. Using frameworks such as population, intervention, comparison, outcome, sometimes with timeframe (PICO(T)) and feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, relevant (FINER), he guided participants in formulating meaningful clinical questions and navigating the practical realities of research, including issues such as time constraints, resource limitations, and team dynamics.

2. Turning Ideas into Impact
Dr Gerard Walls offered valuable advice on ways to overcome the challenges of pursuing a research career; he highlighted that the journey through science is often non-linear. Rita Simões shared her personal journey, from early career obstacles to becoming an RTT researcher.

3. Patient-Centred Outcomes
Emma Hall highlighted the importance of integrating patient-reported outcomes into research and how they can improve study relevance to patients. She invited researchers to think about these measures from the earliest stages of study design.

4. Confidence, Communication, and Culture
Marianne Aznar explored the psychological challenges of research, including impostor syndrome and the fear of failure, and she offered practical strategies to overcome them. She stressed the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and building a professional network, particularly through platforms such as ESTRO.

Meanwhile, Dr Gerry Hanna highlighted the traits of effective research teams: trust, open communication, embracing disagreement, and strong leadership. Drawing inspiration from figures such as Helen Bevan, a chief transformation officer at NHS, he emphasised the need to foster a positive, dynamic research culture.

5. Practical Skills and Presentation
Elizabeth Forde shared advice from ESTRO abstract reviewers, who had focused on clarity, structure, and the importance of aligning conclusions with results. Søren Bentzen reminded participants that delivery of a powerful oral presentation was as much about engaging the audience as it was about content: "A difference is only a difference if it makes a difference."

6. Technology and Innovation
Yat Man Tsang highlighted the pivotal role that RTTs play in bridging technology and patient care. While not every RTT may be a research lead, every RTT should be an active user of research. Their insights are essential for improving quality, safety, and clinical outcomes.

A movement for RTT research

The Research Bootcamp 2025 was more than a course; it was a call to action—a collective effort to build a stronger, more research-driven RTT community. The course promoted the integration of patient and public involvement, cross-functional teamwork, and long-term research strategy planning.

As a participant, I have to say that this bootcamp didn’t just give us skills, it gave us the confidence and community to make an impact.

Sophie Boisbouvier
Radiation therapist, MSc, PhD student
Centre Léon Bérard
Lyon, France
Sophie.boisbouvier@lyon.unicancer.fr
Member of the RTT committee