RCR/Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowships
Applications for 2025/26 are now open. The closing date is 8 February 2026.
Background
The RCR established the 'RCR-Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowships' to provide opportunities for a limited number of Consultant Specialty, Associate Specialist and Specialist (SAS) and post-FRCR resident 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 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.
How 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 [email protected]
The closing date for receipt of applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 8 February 2026. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt within three working days, please contact [email protected] to check that their application has been received.
Eligibility
There will be up to two 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 Practice Board at the end of the Fellowship visit.
Further information
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 Petra Jankowska, Medical Director Professional Practice, Clinical Oncology via the Professional Practice and Quality Improvement Team.
Successful applicants of the RCR/Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowships
- Dr Helen Benghiat and Dr Helen Howard, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Xiamen Humanity Hospital, China
- Dr Henno Martin and Dr Liam Stubbington, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Centre (HIT), Germany.
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Dr William Croxford and Dr Kamran Fathi, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust - visiting MedAustron, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
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Dr Bill Nailon and Dr David Noble, NHS Lothian - visiting Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Centre (HIT), Germany#
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Dr Maria Hawkins and Prof Andy Nisbet, University College London - visiting Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
- Dr Harshani Green and Ms Orla Byrne, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Pei Lim and Mr Callum Gillies , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Centre (HIT), Germany.
- Dr Shanmugasundaram Ramkumar, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Michael Kosmin and Dr Andrew Gosling, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Anila Patibandla, The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Catherine Coyle/Dr Julia Handley, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Charles Fong, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Dr Andrew Dumbill, University Hospitals Birmingham, - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Cheng Boon, Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Dr Spyros Manalopoulos, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire – visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia and Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Trento, Italy.
- Dr Aqilah Othman, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre - visiting Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
- Dr Tarun Durga, Royal Marsden Hospital, London - visiting University of Florida Health Proton Institute.
- Dr Daniel Saunders and Dr Ekaterina Gnutzman, Nottingham University Hospital - visiting Proton Beam Therapy Centre at University of Pennsylvania.
- Dr Alison Ranger and Mr Alex Dunlop, The Royal Marsden - visiting MD Anderson Centre, Texas.
- Dr Nachi Palaniappan and Dr Anthony Millin, Velindre Cancer Centre - visiting University of Florida Health Proton Institute.
- Dr Muhammad Fawad Ul Qamar and Mr Ellis Marshall, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust - visiting University of Florida Health Proton Institute.
- Dr Sundus Yahya and Dr Jason Cashmore, University Hospitals Birmingham - visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute.
- Dr Suliana Teoh and Mr Paul Clarke, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - visiting Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland.
- Dr Omar Al-Salhi, University Hospital Southampton – visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, USA.
- Dr Anna Thompson, North Middlesex University Hospital – visiting Massachuesetts General Hospital, USA.
- Dr Christina Wilson – visiting University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, USA.
- Dr Jackie Harney, Northern Ireland Cancer Centre – visiting University of Florida Proton, USA.
- Dr Thankamma Ajithkumar, Cambridge University Hospitals – visiting West German Proton Therapy Centre, Europe.
- Dr C Anandadas, The Christie Hospital, Manchester - visiting Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
- Dr B Jyoti, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, USA.
- Dr K Gupta, The Christie Hospital, Manchester - visiting University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA.
- Dr J Gains, University College Hospital, London - visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, USA.
- Dr S Kennedy, The Christie Hospital, Manchester - visiting University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA.
- Dr D Thomson, The Christie Hospital, Manchester - visiting Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
- Dr D Cutter, - Oxford Cancer Centre – visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, USA.
- Dr S Ramkumar, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust – visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, USA.
- Dr C Arthur, The Christie Hospital, Manchester - visiting Roberts Proton Therapy Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Dr CC Lim, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester – visiting Procure Proton Therapy Centre Oklahoma, USA.
- Dr H Mandeville, Royal Marsden Hospital, London – visiting Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
- Dr G Whitfield, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester - visiting University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, USA.
RCR-Cyclotron Trust Visiting Fellowships - Terms and Conditions (2025/26)
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