1. Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg (DKFZ) (Germany)
2. Sheffield Hallam University (UK)
In radiotherapy, patients are typically treated in supine position, with the arm of the linear accelerator rotating around the patients. The preparatory Computed Tomography scan (i.e. the planning CT) is thus performed in the same position as typically done for diagnostic imaging. However, several recent studies suggested that patient positioning in an upright position (sitting or standing) could improve treatment delivery to some tumor locations.
Goal:
The doctoral project is within the field of health economics. The goal is to focus on developing and deploying costing approaches to evaluate the production costs of the up-right radiotherapy patient positioning in comparison to the standard positioning. You will become part of an international research group in an English speaking environment and are welcome to interact closely with members of the GATE, CNRS, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, emlyon business school.
Tasks:
Your profile
Application process
If you find this position interesting and would like to work in an exceptional, international, strongly innovative environment, please send your full application documents, including the filled application form, motivation letter, short CV, list of most important publications with explanation of your own contribution, and information of your earliest possible starting date. If you are applying for more than one UPLIFT PhD position, you may indicate your top 3 preferences in the application form. Please submit your application through the form below until January 15, 2025. If you have questions, feel free to send an email to [email protected].
We anticipate video conference interviews with candidates starting in the third week of February,
for start dates from March 2025. Applications submitted without any of the required documents will not be considered.
Candidates can be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. Applicants should be within the first four years of their research careers and must not have been awarded a doctoral degree. Submitted applications will be evaluated in accordance with the European Code of Conduct for Recruitment.
My name is Fabio Veneruso and I am originally from Naples, Italy. I have an academic background in economics and have received formal training in economics and finance, specialising in health economics and health technology assessment (HTA). I am currently hosted by the Centre Léon Bérard (CLB) in Lyon, within the Direction de la Recherche Clinique et de l’Innovation. My main supervisor there is Lionel Perrier, PhD, HDR, Head of the ‘Innovations et stratégies de santé’ unit. My co-supervisor is Dr Vincent Grégoire, a radiation oncologist with extensive experience in clinical and translational radiotherapy research. This supervisory structure enables me to work at the intersection of economic evaluation methods and real-world radiotherapy practice.
I am part of the UPLIFT Doctoral Network and will be working on the project entitled ‘Socio-economic impact analysis of upright radiotherapy’. My role is to develop and apply costing approaches to estimate production costs, as well as conducting health economic evaluations, including cost-effectiveness analysis. In close collaboration with medical teams and other researchers, I will develop costing models that reflect real clinical workflows, communicating research findings through presentations and scientific publications. I chose this topic because upright radiotherapy is a promising innovation whose organisational and economic implications still require robust, transparent evidence.
My personal aim is to give evidence that helps transform innovation into better patient care, while keeping decisions based on value and feasibility for providers. Through this project, I expect to strengthen my expertise in applied health economics while delivering results that inform the decision-making of clinicians, managers. Outside of academia, I enjoy photography, travelling, long-distance motorcycle trips and cooking. These activities help me to maintain balance and curiosity.
