Within the UPLIFT Consortium, CNAO will make all its skills available to the candidate to investigate the human aspects of upright RT/PT and build tools for patient training and familiarization with this innovative type of immobilization and set-up  

Goal:  

Gain hands-on clinical experience at CNAO, working closely with colleagues hosted by SHU to implement a VR learning environment aimed at enhancing patient engagement and improving radiotherapy outcomes with upright positioning (upRT). Develop design specifications for effective patient support systems tailored to upright positions—seated, perched, and reclined. Additionally, create a training and strategy system that empowers patients and maximizes their cooperation to facilitate the upRT approach. 

 Tasks:  

• Literature research and co-design workshops with patients and RT staff to gain specifications for a VR learning intervention; 

• Implement the VR application for patients training & familiarization to increase confidence in self-positioning  

• Test the impact in a simulated therapy on patient experience and the duration and accuracy of achieved self-positioned immobilization. 

• Using the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions a participatory co-design process will be used working with patients and treating staff in focus groups. 
  

• 3 months secondment @CNAO to study clinical workflow and upright immobilization procedures for PT;  

• 4 weeks of research visiting  @CLB for investigating latest upright IMRT/VMAT workflow and discuss impact of patient comfort on RT costs; 

• 3 weeks of research visiting @LU/LCC for including the latest patient immobilization equipment and conducting a workshop in the LCC device;
  

• Presentation of research in the form of peer-reviewed publications, reports and oral 

• Presentations in workshops, symposiums and conferences 

• Participation in Consortium training activities and secondment projects