RCR/Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowships

Applications are invited from Consultant, SAS and post-FRCR Specialist Registrar Clinical Oncologists for an RCR-Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowship.

Background

The RCR established the ‘RCR–Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowships’ to provide opportunities for a limited number of Consultant and post-FRCR Specialist Registrar Clinical Oncologists to visit Particle Treatment Centres abroad. The purpose of the visits is to enable successful applicants to achieve a greater understanding of the role of particle therapy in the wider spectrum of advanced radiotherapy. The Visiting Fellowships are made possible by a generous financial donation from the former Cyclotron Trust, for which the RCR would like to express its gratitude.

Nature

The aim of the 2023/24 Fellowships is to promote a greater understanding of the potential of heavy ion therapy (including carbon ion therapy) and to increase awareness of new applications of particle therapy e.g. flash proton therapy. The assessors will look favourably upon paired applications to visit appropriate centres. Applicants should also consider applying for the Fellowships in order to learn more about Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) during visits where this is possible.

As of July 2022, there are four carbon ion therapy facilities operating in Europe, two in China and seven operating in Japan. Priority will be given to applications to visit one of the four European carbon ion centres (Heidelberg, Marburg, Pavia and Med-AUSTRON). Consideration will also be given to proposals to visit carbon ion therapy centres in China or Japan but, such applications would need to be exceptional.

These visits, anticipated to be up to (but no longer than) two weeks, will contribute towards achieving the highest possible standard for a modern, world-class radiotherapy service in the UK. A key component of this is clearly to develop the knowledge and expertise of Clinical Oncologists and Medical Physicists regarding heavy ion therapy.

Funding

Funding of up to a maximum of £3,000 per visit will be available*. For paired applications, funding up to a maximum of £3,000 will be available for each applicant.

Eligibility

There will be up to five Fellowships per College year (September to August) and all visits must be undertaken within 12 months of the award being made unless there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances. Paired applications count as one Fellowship. The successful applicant(s) will be required to submit a report to the RCR’s Cyclotron Trust Funding Panel and CO Professional Support and Standards Board at the end of the Fellowship visit.

Dr Yen-Ch'ing Chang and Prof Stuart Green, former Trustees of the Cyclotron Trust, have kindly agreed to offer informal advice and support to applicants considering applying for a Fellowship. They can be contacted at: [email protected] and [email protected]. 

If you are considering visiting a centre in China or Japan and would like to discuss this option further, please contact Dr Nicky Thorp, Medical Director, Professional Practice, Clinical Oncology via the Professional Practice Administrator. 

Guidance notes

Please read the terms and conditions, before submitting your application. 

To apply:

If you wish to apply for an RCR-Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowship, please submit to the RCR:

• A brief CV and an explanation of why you are suitable for such a Fellowship.
• A description of the proposed visit, including the name of the host Centre, the host lead consultant or professional, dates of the visit, the specific aims any observer fees imposed by the host centre and a summary of the benefits to both you and your department.
• Evidence that the host Centre has agreed to the purpose of the visit and to host you as Fellowship award holder for the specified time (i.e. a letter or email from the host confirming the arrangements).
• A budget plan, indicating estimated travel and accommodation costs and any observer fees the host centre charges, up to but not exceeding £3,000.
• Two references from consultant clinical oncologists/Fellows of the RCR, one of whom should be the Head of the Department in which you are working.

Applications should be sent (either as Word documents or PDF files), to the Professional Practice Administrator. 

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Friday 26 January 2024. If applicants do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt within three working days, they must contact the RCR to check that their application has been received.

All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application, whether successful or not, by 29 March 2024. The decision of the RCR on the award of the Visiting Fellowship(s) is final and binding.

Visits must be undertaken within 12 months of the award being made and a report submitted to the RCR within two months of the end of the Fellowship. A final receipted expenses claim for reimbursement should be submitted after completion of the visit.

A list of previous successful applicants and their visit reports is available below.

*This is intended to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and observer fees only. It is not intended to cover daily living expenses, or any additional costs incurred during the visit. If costs are estimated above £3,000, the additional sum is to be met by the applicant. All aspects of the claim must be strictly in accordance with the RCR Travel and Expenses policy.