Research
Residents can utilize research areas dedicated to radiation biology, as well as physics and dosimetry, and have access to all cancer core laboratories including the DNA microarray core, molecular and cellular imaging, analytical ultra-centrifugation, and the Protein Chemistry Technology Center, which includes mass spectrometry, peptide synthesis, protein sequencing, and protein identification.
Special clinical research facilities include imaging modalities in radiology for 3-D treatment planning, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, as well as CT/PET-guided therapy.
The Department of Radiation Oncology, as well as individual radiation biologists, physicists, and physicians, are members of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, which allows for access to numerous shared research facilities, including bioanalysis and biostatistics, cell imaging, clinical protocol review and monitoring system, clinical trials, DNA sequencing, gene mapping, human tissue acquisition and pathology, molecular recognition, peptide sequencing and amino acid analysis, and transgenic mouse/ES cells. Center members also have access to flow cytometry and molecular graphics support facilities.
Research isn't restricted to the UTSW campus, as many residents have elected to do their research time elsewhere, including:
- An MBA in healthcare leadership and management through the University of Texas at Dallas
- An MBA at the University of Texas at Dallas that complemented research investigating outcome and practice patterns
- Studying the clinical application of heavy ion particle therapy at the Hospital of Charged Particle Therapy at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Chiba, Japan
- The Holman Research Pathway, which is designed for the exceptional trainee who has both strong clinical abilities and a background in research and allows for 80% dedicated research time
- Advanced SRS training utilizing CyberKnife and Gamma Knife, as well as prostatic brachytherapy and IORT
- Investigating the role of miR-125a-5p as a tumor suppressor miRNA in head and neck cancer
