We are The Christie magazine -Edition 5

Radiotherapy award

The team was so pleased to win this award as recognition of our efforts, and the other teams we work closely with, to extend access to radiotherapy trials. Julie Webb, Principal Radiographer

Radiotherapy trials team is 'UK Radiography Team of the Year'

The prestigious awards celebrate radiographers who make a real difference to patient care and for The Christie, the win reflects the dedication of a team that collaborates with others to improve the patient experience, while advancing radiotherapy research. The team has transformed access to radiotherapy clinical trials across Greater Manchester and Cheshire by introducing a decentralised model. This means more patients can now take part in trials at local centres in Oldham, Salford and Macclesfield, rather than travelling to our Withington site. As a result, dozens of patients have been able to join potentially life-changing research studies closer to home, making participation more convenient and more inclusive. “We’re so pleased to win this award as recognition of our efforts, and the other teams we work closely with, to extend access to radiotherapy trials. To be acknowledged by our radiography colleagues makes us so proud. We are all passionate about delivering high-quality care. The Christie is a special place to work because of its ‘can-do’ attitude. We all share the goal of improving outcomes and patient experience. Being able to offer research opportunities at our local centres means a great deal to patients. We’ve worked across several disciplines to make this happen,” said Principal Radiographer Julie Webb. The Christie’s radiotherapy clinical trials team is celebrating being named ‘UK Radiography Team of the Year’ by the Society of Radiographers.

The team’s success reflects a commitment to improving diversity in radiotherapy research. By comparing the makeup of participants in clinical trials with those receiving standard treatment, they identified opportunities to expand access to trials. New studies are now being assessed to see whether they can be opened at our other sites, with Christie radiographers travelling from Withington to recruit and consent patients locally where possible. The team is also developing a radiotherapy trials dashboard, to make it easier for patients across the North West to find information about clinical trials. Lee Whiteside, pictured with Julie, has played a crucial part in the team’s success, having been involved in work nationally through a partnership called the Operational Delivery Network, a network of clinical experts who coordinate and improve the quality and access to specialised radiotherapy services. Julie is keen to emphasise the collaborative nature of the work, and how they receive support from Christie colleagues, including the radiotherapy clinical trials physicists, local radiotherapy centre teams in Oldham, Salford and Macclesfield, the specialist proton beam therapy trials team and dedicated radiographers who manage MR-guided radiotherapy trials using our MR-linac machine. In 2026, the team plans to continue expanding access to trials and addressing barriers to ensure more patients benefit from research, both now and in the future.

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