How to develop your clinical research program in Radiation Oncology?

In contrast to the phenomenal technological advances, the clinical research in Radiation Oncology has been sparse. Developing a clinical research program requires significant investments in manpower, resources and time. Clinical research warrants well drafted protocol and strict QA to be successful and meaningful. It is observed that compliance to protocols has significant impact on outcome. Research priorities are also determined by scientific opportunities which basically open avenues for significant improvements and benefits for patients and institutions. The presentation will discuss the major issues facing when setting up such a research program at the national or regional level. Appropriate set-up is needed to develop, which can track and measure the performance and efficiency of clinical trials. Several countries have adopted such set-ups to mitigate the underlying issues related to the clinical trials. The issues and needs are unique to Radiation Oncology research. It is required to develop an organizational structure and adopt some validated methods available to set research. Often the researchers are constrained by budget and find it difficult to maintain quality as well as cost. For a national level research program, it is important to spread the funding in such a way that many questions can be answered on issues being studied. Systematic research capacity development would be desirable especially with LMICs and having a brief description of ways and means to leverage technology and collaboration and look at grant opportunities available. In most cases LMIC health care research capability has problems of strong demands and weak supplies. The quality of research that can be conducted is an important aspect to be considered. Thus, if the research cannot be conducted appropriately or ethically in a manner, which will answer the research question in the country then priority assigned is lesser. While ethical conduct of trial is of paramount importance in modern science, there are several challenges in LMIC nations in this regard. The LMIC should consider clinical research and prepare themselves for quality research to answer the issues related to them. The collaborative research will overcome several issues, those have been limitations for past. The post-graduate students and young scientists should initiate the process. (author)