Radiation and brain structure: minimising deficits in paediatric brain tumour survivors

Now Closed

Primary Supervisor: Professor Chris Clark (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health)
Secondary Supervisor: Professor Andy Nisbet (UCL, Department of Medical Physics)
Subsidiary Supervisors: Dr Yen Ching Chang (University College London Hospital), Dr Felice D’Arco (Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children)

Project summary
This is a 4-year PhD studentship co-funded by the UCL Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (MPBE) and the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The project brings together imaging and clinical expertise across UCL and its partner hospitals, including MPBE, the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, GOSH and University College London Hospital. The funding covers an annual tax free stipend (at least £17009) and tuition fees. UK and EU candidates are eligible for this scholarship. The successful candidate will be enrolled onto the UCL CDT in Intelligent Integrated Imaging in Healthcare (i4health) and benefit from the being part of a cohort of PhD students as well as participation in the activities and events organised by the centre.

Background The overall survival rate of children with brain tumours has increased dramatically due to the availability of various treatment strategies such as surgery and proton therapy. However, these improvements in survival are accompanied by serious brain impairments. For example, deficits in attention, memory, ability to switch between tasks, speed of processing and literacy are commonly seen in survivors.

To better understand how these impairments arise, imaging techniques have been used to investigate damage to structure of the brain as a result of irradiation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows us to take pictures of the brain. Using a special technique called diffusion MRI it is possible to measure the degree of damage to the brain structure and to map this spatially.

Research Aims The aim of this PhD is to explore the relationship between radiation dose and how this relates to microstructural damage in the brain spatially and in turn how this is associated with post-treatment deficits.

The study sample will consist of paediatric patients with craniopharyngioma, ependymoma or low grade glioma undergoing proton therapy at UCLH. Proton therapy data will be collected as part of the routine clinical service at UCLH. Quantitative MRI data will be collected as part of the routine clinical service at GOSH.

The student will work on importing MRI data into the radiotherapy planning system (Eclipse) at UCLH and co-registering this to the treatment planning CT. This will allow assessment of various microstructural parameters derived from multi-shell diffusion MRI against the point by point dose from the dose distribution cube. The student will then work on models to make spatial statistical inferences regarding the relationships between dose, microstructure and cognition.

The student will have the opportunity to have 3 placements to better understand the background and develop skills required for the project:

Research placement 1
UCLH Radiotherapy Physics Department. For this placement the student will be supervised by Mr Andy Poynter, Proton Physics Group Lead. The student will learn about treatment planning and how to work with and modify radiation fields. Dr Yen Ching Chang, the clinical lead for proton therapy at UCLH will provide clinical perspectives on the project.

Research placement 2
Great Ormond Street Hospital, Department of Radiology. For this placement the student will be supervised by Dr Felice D’Arco to learn about the typical imaging features of paediatric brain tumours. This will provide the student with a better understanding of the overall treatment approaches to different brain tumour types and different anatomical locations in which brain tumours may occur.

Research placement 3
UCL Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering. For this placement the student will spend time with Professor Andy Nisbet to learn about the basic theory of radiotherapy physics, attendance at appropriate modules of the taught programmes in radiotherapy physics related areas including a planned advanced radiotherapy summer school will be provided.

Deadline 1st June

To Apply: Please send a CV and Covering Letter expressing your interest to Prof Chris Clark christopher.clark@ucl.ac.uk