Our Mission

The Radiation Oncology Branch (ROB) exists to plan and conduct pre-clinical and clinical research on the biologic and therapeutic effects of radiation administrated alone or in combination with other modalities of treatment; to develop novel technology and imaging based approaches for radiation oncology; to investigate the natural history of disease to understand and evaluate means of diagnostic assessment for the purpose of optimizing treatment selections; and to provide radiation therapy as well as general oncology consultations for patients admitted to other NIH Clinical Research Center (CRC) clinical services, in a collaborative approach.

Clinical Research Overview

The Radiation Oncology Branch exists as part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR). The ROB designs and conducts pre-clinical and clinical research on the biologic and therapeutic effect of radiation therapy. The research clinical trials that the ROB develops and conducts involve novel technology and/or imaging based approaches to radiation therapy treatment. Within ROB Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) image fusion is a routine part of a patient treatment planning. The ROB also provides treatment via radiosurgery, intensity-modulated 3-D conformal radiotherapy (IMRT), real-time dose measurement, brachytherapy, and MR-guided procedures.

The ROB team of clinical investigators are board certified in radiation oncology. The ROB clinical team is comprised of radiation oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, residents, research nurses, clinical staff nurses, clinical assistants, data managers and access to social workers. All of our staff have board certification or professionally appropriate certification and education for their field of expertise. As a team, the ROB is dedicated to conducting clinical trials based on sound translations research, while providing the highest possible clinical care for patients with various types of malignancies.

The ROB clinical staff collaborate with other clinical and laboratory investigators within the ROB, CCR, as well as other Institutes within the NIH, including National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The ROB also provides consultative services to the entire CCR, collaborating with other clinical services to provide the most comprehensive and highest level of care and treatment.

Scientific Research Overview

Scientific Investigators within the Radiation Oncology Branch (ROB) represent a critical mass of talent and expertise within the broad field of radiation oncology, from molecular and cellular biology to radiation biology and preclinical research, and imaging and clinical trials. Technological expertise in patient imaging, treatment, planning and delivery are essential to ensure that the innovative molecular and biological therapy is built upon a superior technical platform.

In order to meet this goal the ROB maintains close collaboration with the Molecular Therapeutics Section of the Imaging Sciences Program at the NCI as well as with other diagnostic imaging experts on staff within the clinical center.

The National Capital Consortium Radiation Oncology Residency Program

The Radiation Oncology Branch participates with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in the National Capital Consortium Radiation Oncology Residency Program sponsored by the University Services University of the Health Sciences. The Branch is a committed and active participant in this residency program and is dedicated to training radiation oncologists with the knowledge and skills necessary to optimize the role of radiation therapy for the treatment of patients in the post-human genome era.