1. Elections
SIOP Europe Radiation Oncology Working Group Steering Committee Elections
We received 13 applications to become a Steering Committee member of the SIOP Europe Radiation Oncology Working Group. Elections took place from 16 March to 6 April 2020 and 189 members of our community cast their votes.
We’re pleased to inform that the composition of the inaugural Steering Committee is as follows:
- Radiation Oncologists (6): Tom Boterberg, Mark Gaze, Semi Harrabi, Geert Janssens, Anne Laprie, Gillian Whitfield
- Therapeutic Radiographer (1): Cathy Dunlea
The Steering Committee will hold its first meeting during the month of May.
Following this meeting, updates on the Working Group’s activities and any opportunities for further active involvement will be made available.
More information here.
2. Radiation Oncology and COVID-19
Outbreaks like COVID-19, but also other sudden or prolonged disasters may have a drastic impact on the capacity to deliver radiotherapy due to shortages of personnel, protective equipment, ventilators and machine time.
In an attempt to minimise the potential detriment on clinical outcomes for children with cancer from interruption of radiotherapy services, the SIOPE radiation oncology working group has undertaken a rapid review of the role of radiotherapy in the multidisciplinary care of childhood cancers, and considered alternatives for radiotherapy when it is impossible to deliver the internationally accepted standard of care.
This rapid review was published online on 27th April in the journal of Radiotherapy and Oncology and the Group is happy to share this.
Radiotherapy and Oncology: ‘A rapid review of evidence and recommendations from the SIOPE radiation oncology working group to help mitigate for reduced paediatric radiotherapy capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic or other crises’.