Training

One of RadNet Leeds’s core objectives is to support and train the next generation of radiotherapy research leaders. To date, excellent progress was made with our training objectives with two CRUK ARTIC Leeds-Manchester clinical PhD students, one NIHR clinical radiographer PhD fellow and five non-clinical PhD students (four UoL funded, one funded jointly by UoL and Yorkshire Cancer Research and one self-funded) in post.

In addition, two of our University Academic Fellows, Dr Louise Murray and Dr Ane Appelt, have been promoted to Associate Professors.


RadNet PhD Students


Theme 1

Mr Isuru Wijesinghe

Isuru’s project will focus on AI for motion modelling in radiotherapy, Theme 1, WP1. This research aims to envisage a hybrid modelling approach that integrates biomechanical models of the relevant organs with deep learning techniques (Deep Motion Models) to estimate internal anatomical deformations in real-time.  

Isuru holds a Degree in Master of Science (Engineering) from the University of Moratuwa.   

Profile: Isuru Wijesinghe | School of Mechanical Engineering | University of Leeds

Miss Behnaz Elhaminia

Behnaz’s project will explore machine learning for outcome prediction after pelvic radiotherapy, Theme 1, WP2.  

Behnaz received her B.S. degree in computer engineering, in 2014, and her M.S. degree in 2018, both from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Mashhad, Iran. She was a research student of MVLab (Machine Vision Laboratory) in FUM during her studies.  

Profile: Behnaz Elhaminia – CISTIB Portal

Mr Stelios Theophanous

Stelios’s PhD project focuses on predicting treatment outcome in anal cancer, Theme 1, WP2. In collaboration with multiple institutions , a distributed learning framework is being employed which allows the development and validation of machine learning models across centres. His aim is to develop robust outcome prediction models that can be used in a clinical setting to inform and guide the RT-based treatment of anal cancer. 

Stelios completed his Masters in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology at the University of Manchester and worked as a data scientist at the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA). 

Profile: Stelios Theophanous | School of Medicine | University of Leeds

Miss Soodeh Kalaie

Soodeh’s is funded by University of Leeds for 3 years from October 2019. Her PhD project focuses on uncertainty quantification using Bayesian neural networks in medical image segmentation; Theme 1, WP1. Her PhD aims at developing a generic statistical framework for learning probabilistic generative models that are capable of sampling realistic and large scale graphs (meshes) to improve the utility of mesh based auto-contouring (DL-AC) in the radiotherapy clinic. This project will propose deep Bayesian models for graph generation based on novel deep learning techniques such as graph convolutional networks (GCN). 

Soodeh Kalaie received her B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering. Subsequently, she started her M. Sc. at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran where she joined a research group with the focus on machine learning and medical imaging. She worked as an R&D engineer in Tehran, Iran for four years.  

Profile: Soodeh Kalaie | School of Computing | University of Leeds

Mrs Nouf Alzahrani

Nouf’s PhD project is looking into assessing and clinically implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) auto contouring tools in RayStation for the brain and pelvis in radiotherapy under the supervision of Dr Ann Henry, Dr Louise Murray, Dr Mike Nix and Dr Bashar Al-Qaisieh.; Theme 1, WP1.  She is interested in using advanced imaging technology delivering accurate radiation dose in radiotherapy. 

Nouf graduated from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA with a master’s degree in sciences in Radiation Therapy. After graduating, Nouf passed the national certification exam in Radiation Therapy, given by the American Registry in Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Mr Matt Beasley

Matt Beasley is an Advanced Practitioner Therapeutic Radiographer working in the Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies Network (ART-NET) at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. He has been awarded a HEE/NIHR ICA Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship (CDRF) which commenced in July 2021.  

The prestigious NIHR CDRF fellowship provides non-medics with funding to complete a PhD whilst continuing with their clinical career. Over the four years of the fellowship, Matt will be working closely with the clinical and radiotherapy research teams at Leeds Cancer Centre and the University of Leeds on a PhD project entitled: MRI scans with respiratory Immobilisation to Contour Radiotherapy Organs at risk using oral Contrast of Hypo or hyper intense fluids Including the Patient perSpective: The MICROCHIPS study.  


Theme 2

Dr Jim Zhong

Jim is an academic clinical radiology trainee, and has been competitively awarded the CRUK Leeds-Manchester Stella Erdheim Clinical PhD Fellowship (£255k) to investigate novel prostate re-irradiation. 
 
Jim will contribute to Theme 2 with a research project entitled ‘Personalising re-irradiation of locally recurrent prostate cancer directed by MR Imaging and hypoxia biomarkers.’ He will recruit participants to a biomarker driven pilot study across RadNet Centres as part of this project.  

Profile: Jim Zhong I School of Medicine I University of Leeds

Theme 3

Dr Robert Samuel 

Robert Samuel is a current clinical oncology specialist trainee in the West Yorkshire programme. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh before moving to Newcastle for Academic Foundation Training and then to Leeds for an Academic Clinical Fellowship in Leeds. He is starting a CRUK Leeds-Manchester Clinical Research Training Fellowship in October 2020.  

Robbie’s PhD project is entitled ‘Rationally developing the next generation of personalised target drug-chemotherapy combination trials in anal cancer’. His work is part of theme 3 and he is interested in early phase translational trials in lower GI cancer using novel radiotherapy-drug combinations.”