Lien Smets obtained her degree in ‘Master of Science’ in 2017 at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). She was employed as nurse specialist at the department of Radiation-Oncology for 3 years. In 2020 she commenced a Phd research project ‘Organ preservation strategies in rectal cancer’ at the Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy. The aim of this PhD project is to optimize the treatment and to improve outcomes in patients with rectal cancer, by focusing on a patient-tailored approach.