Five of our CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre (CoL RadNet ) PhD students recently showcased their research and patient and public engagement skills at the UCLH Celebrating Research Open Day 2026 on Thursday 8th October 2026. The event welcomed patients, hospital staff and members of the public for an afternoon of interactive activities highlighting cutting-edge health research and innovation taking place across UCLH and its partners.

The open day featured approximately 50 interactive stalls and provided opportunities for visitors to meet researchers and clinicians, explore emerging healthcare technologies, and learn more about medical research.

Representing CoL RadNet were Isobel Bonning (QMUL/KCL), Callum Emin (QMUL/UCL), Steph Leadbitter (UCL), Devika Singh (UCL/Crick) and Maria Janjua (UCL), supported by Philippa Pristerà and Esther Osarfo-Mensah from the CoL RadNet PPIE team. Throughout the afternoon via interactive demonstrations and discussions, the PhD students spoke with visitors about the ways in which radiation technologies are used to diagnose and treat disease through medical imaging and radiotherapy, and shared insights into their own research so far.

For our PhD students, the event provided a valuable opportunity to develop their patient and public engagement skills and gain first-hand experience communicating their work with diverse audiences:

“Taking part in the UCLH Research Open Day was a really rewarding experience. I particularly enjoyed engaging with patients and members of the public, explaining how radiotherapy works and discussing the latest research and advancements in the field. It was a valuable opportunity to develop my confidence in communicating complex scientific concepts in an accessible way. Speaking with visitors also reminded me of the importance of patient engagement and how research ultimately aims to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.” – Maria Janjua

The event also enabled visitors to contribute their perspectives and questions, creating meaningful dialogue between researchers and the communities that ultimately benefit from research outcomes.

Public and patient involvement and engagement is a key part of RadNet City of London’s mission, ensuring that research is informed by and accessible to the wider public. By participating in events such as the UCLH Celebrating Research Open Day, our PhD students help to not only build understanding of radiation science, but also inspire interest in healthcare innovations.

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In2STEM is a widening participation programme that supports young people from under-represented backgrounds studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at BTEC and A-Level. Through hands-on activities and interactions with researchers, the programme helps students gain insight into STEM careers and the many pathways available into research and healthcare innovation.

Students in workshop organised by Graeme Hewitt’s Lab (Isobel Bonning, Zoe Newson, Emelie Jansson, and Ekaterina Morozova)

At Guy’s Cancer Centre, the students spent a morning with researchers Isobel Bonning, Zoe Newson, Emelie Jansson, and Ekaterina Morozova in Dr Graeme Hewitt’s lab, where they gained practical insight into some of the laboratory techniques used in cancer research, including agarose gel electrophoresis and microscopy. They also learned about each researcher’s career paths, university experiences, and current research projects.

Students in workshop organised by Dr Cinzia Imberti and PhD student Zuzanna Kokoszka

Dr Cinzia Imberti (right) and PhD student Zuzanna Kokoszka (left)

The students took part in a bespoke laboratory session designed and delivered by Dr Cinzia Imberti and PhD student Zuzanna Kokoszka in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences at St Thomas’ Hospital. The interactive workshop introduced students to PET imaging and demonstrated how imaging agents are developed and purified before being used in disease detection and treatment.
The placement provided students with an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge cancer research first-hand while meeting researchers at different stages of their careers. The students gained valuable insights into the skills, training and opportunities available within cancer research and the wider STEM sector.

Reflecting on the week, one student said the placement “provided more insight into a career I knew not a lot about and allowed me to question what the right path is for the future.” Another commented that the sessions “were really interesting and relate a lot to what I want to do in the future. Everything was just really fun overall.” When surveyed, all of the students agreed that the week slightly or significantly increased their interest in studying or working in STEM, and either agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident that they could find a route into a job that suited them.

Programmes such as In2STEM play an important role in broadening access to STEM careers by helping young people build confidence, develop new skills and connect with professionals working at the forefront of research and innovation.

We would like to thank all the researchers, clinicians, technical staff and professional services colleagues who contributed their time and expertise to make this In2STEM placement such a success.

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On Tuesday 25th November 2025, we hosted the inaugural meeting of our PPIE Radiation Research Champions, marking an exciting step in our efforts to continue embedding patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) into our work at CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre.

This new advisory initiative brings together RadNet-affiliated researchers from across our institutions to ensure that public and patient voices and lived experiences help shape the future of radiation research. It also gives researchers the opportunity to influence PPIE training and opportunities, ensuring best practice across our community.

Why does this matter?

PPIE makes research more relevant and impactful by involving and engaging patients, caregivers and the public in discussions about radiotherapy and radiation research. Through collaboration, we can improve perceptions, shape better treatments, understand the mental health needs of patients and loved ones during treatment, and share innovations so research benefits patients quickly.

What will the Champions do?

Over the next year, Champions will:

• Share insights on researcher needs and challenges in embedding PPIE
• Support the development of PPIE resources and training for researchers
• Raise the visibility of PPIE across our research community
• This light-touch but high-impact role will inform the strategic development of PPIE support and make it easier for researchers to involve and engage patients and the public in meaningful ways.

Find out more about our champions:

Dr Anthony Kong

Since July 2019, I have been a Reader at King’s College London and an honorary NHS Consultant in Clinical Oncology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. My research interests include personalised medicine, translational research, and clinical trials. My research programme bridges the gap between clinical and laboratory research, conducting two-way bench-to-bedside studies with the aim of translating laboratory findings into clinical practice for patients’ benefit.

Ultimately, our research aims to improve patient outcomes. We work with patients as research partners so that we understand what truly matters to them and can guide our research towards areas that are directly relevant and beneficial.

Amanda Webster

I am a Therapeutic Radiographer and CRUK RadNet PhD researcher specialising in motion management for abdominal radiotherapy. My work focuses on translating innovative, evidence-based techniques into routine clinical practice to improve treatment accuracy, workflow, and the experience of both patients and staff.

PPIE matters deeply to me because it makes research better at every stage. It ensures we are asking the right questions, designing studies that are acceptable and meaningful to patients, and capturing outcomes that reflect what truly matters to them. Hearing the patient voice keeps our work grounded, strengthens how we communicate and deliver care, and is a constant reminder of why we do this research in the first place.

Dr Catarina Veiga

I am an Associate Professor at UCL where I lead research into radiotherapy physics and imaging, with a strong focus in paediatric cancers. Alongside my research, I’ve been involved in several PPIE activities and have seen firsthand how PPIE empowers everyone involved. I believe in the power of the patient voice to make researchers and their research better.

Dr Jamie Dean

I lead the Computational Radiation Biology Lab at University College London. Our Lab is researching mechanisms of radiotherapy resistance of brain tumours and radiotherapy-induced normal brain toxicity to design more effective and less toxic treatment strategies. To do so, we integrate computational and mathematical models with experimental and clinical data, working collaboratively with experimental biologists and clinicians.

PPIE matters to me to because it: (1) ensures that our research is informed by the perspectives of people with lived experience of cancer; (2) communicates to patients and the public that research is going on “behind the scenes” to improve the lives of people with cancer in the future; and (3) enables joint advocacy efforts to promote the importance of research and need for increased resources to accelerate our progress.

Patricia Jensen

My PhD research explores ways to improve the safety and efficacy of cancer treatments. It involves adapting existing chemotherapeutic drugs, so they only exhibit the intended effect at the tumour during radiotherapy, with the goal of overcoming side effects for patients. As a chemist, being involved in PPIE is important to me because it helps ensure our research is shaped by the people it will hopefully benefit one day.

Dr Rebecca Carter

My role as a RadNet City of London pre-clinical radiotherapy scientist involves running the preclinical radiotherapy service at UCL Cancer Institute, design and execution of various radiobiological experiments, and appropriate dosimetry for preclinical work.

During my career, I have frequently heard examples of how participation of patients, by contributing details of their experiences and knowledge, can help to enhance the treatment outcomes and influence patient’s perception, post-treatment. These are important both for general well-being, and to increase chances of recovery during cancer treatment.

Dr Rita Pedrosa

My research expertise lies in vascular biology and cancer, with a particular focus on how endothelial cells regulate tumour progression and responses to therapy. Using clinically relevant in vivo models, I study how cancer treatments reshape the tumour microenvironment and immune responses, with the aim of improving therapeutic outcomes.

PPIE is central to my work because understanding patient perspectives helps ensure that research questions, experimental models, and therapeutic strategies address real clinical needs. Engaging with patients and the public strengthens the relevance, transparency, and societal impact of my research, and informs the responsible development of treatments that balance efficacy with long-term patient well-being.

Riya Patel

I am a Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) Research and Development Radiographer, coordinating evaluative commissioning studies in PBT and facilitating development projects. My work focuses on improving patient experience and exploring clinical applications of radiotherapy. PPIE is essential as it ensures research projects reflect patient needs, it also supports trial design and helps deliver treatments that align with patient priorities.

Suzanne McGowan

I am a PhD student studying the role of the tumour microenvironment in radiotherapy-resistant breast cancer, and I am keen to help bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. My professional experience in breast cancer research and my own family’s experience have shown me how important it is that patient and carer voices guide the direction of science. PPIE ensures our research answers the questions that matter most to those affected by cancer.

Dr Samantha Terry

I am an academic at King’s College London who researches what radiation does to our cells; this knowledge then helps radiation protection practices and our ability to use radioactivity to its maximum potential to halt cancer cells from growing or remove them altogether. I have been working in PPIE for over 10 years as I believe it is important to connect with others and that people with experience of cancer and/or radiotherapy can still impact basic science trajectories. Also, that is what life is about, connecting with people, finding similarities and learning from each. Science should be no different.

Looking ahead

If you would like to find out more about the PPIE Radiation Research Champions, please contact Esther Osarfo-Mensah (Senior Outreach Officer) and Philippa Pristerà (Patient Public Involvement Coordinator) via ppie.radnetcol@ucl.ac.uk.

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The idea for WRAD was first announced in November 2024 during London Global Cancer Week, and has since gained widespread support from the international radiotherapy community. This year’s inaugural WRAD marks the anniversary of the first patient treated on a linear accelerator. The campaign theme, “One Voice for Radiotherapy,” reflects a unified global effort to raise awareness and advocate for equitable access to radiotherapy services. Radiotherapy societies and professionals from around the world including ALATRO, AORTIC, ASTRO, ESTRO, RCR and many others have joined the WRAD movement and are planning events and campaigns to support it.

To mark the day and align with WRAD’s mission to amplify patient and professional voices and highlight radiotherapy’s life-saving and life-improving potential, we at CRUK CoL Radiation Research Centre will showcase selected artworks from the “What Does Radiotherapy Mean to You?” project via our Bluesky and LinkedIn channels. Find out more about the project here.

If you would like to join in celebrating World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, sign up to the newsletter on the WRAD website to stay up to date on the campaign and events near you. To support wider engagement with World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, the WRAD Committee has released a Resource Toolkit featuring downloadable materials for use in social media, newsletters, presentations and events. These include sample posts and graphics, multilingual key messages under the “One Voice for Radiotherapy” campaign, infographics, posters and presentation slides.

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Led by artist Liane Harris, the project brought together eight radiotherapy patients, two patients’ loved ones, two therapeutic radiographers, and one radiation researcher. Over the course of five online workshops, participants explored a range of creative methods including collage, photography, drawing, and poetry to express what radiotherapy meant to them. Each participant created multiple pieces of art and shared their personal reflections, culminating in a Celebration Event on 1st October 2024, where they gathered in person to commemorate their work and connect in person. Project participants described the creative process as therapeutic and empowering, and that it offered a way to process complex emotions and experiences. The workshops also fostered a strong sense of community, with attendees valuing the safe and inclusive environment that encouraged open expression.  

What does radiotherapy mean to you?

Looking ahead, the RadNet PPIE team is exploring ways to further celebrate and preserve the project’s legacy. While plans are still evolving, the commitment to amplifying patient and public voices in radiotherapy research remains central. The project has provided a meaningful platform for reflection, creativity and dialogue around radiotherapy, highlighting the importance of personal experience in shaping understanding and connection. As the initiative develops further, the aim is for it to continue to inform how researchers, clinicians and communities engage with radiotherapy not only as a medical treatment but as a lived experience.

This project was funded by the CRUK RadNet CoL as well as CRUK City of London Major Centre.

Read this interview with Dr Lisa Whittaker (KCL) and Dr Samantha Terry (KCL) who won City of London Centre funding for this Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) initiative.

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What inspired you to pursue a career in public engagement with science?

My journey into this field began at the Science Museum and later at the Francis Crick Institute, where I discovered how powerful it can be to connect people with scientific ideas in creative and accessible ways. During my PhD, I continued this work, sharing my research and talking about science more broadly with a wide range of audiences.

What’s always driven me is the belief that science should be inclusive and approachable. I want people to see that scientists come from all kinds of backgrounds, and that science is something they can be part of, whether that means pursuing a career in it or feeling informed and being empowered. Public engagement is also just a lot of fun! It allows you to bring in your other passions, be creative, and explore science in ways that are meaningful to different communities.

What excites you most about joining the team at RadNet?

RadNet is such an exciting initiative because it brings together researchers from across disciplines to accelerate innovation in radiotherapy. While many people know that radiation can be used to treat cancer, there’s still a lot of work to do in raising awareness about how it works.

I’m especially excited to be part of a team that’s not only advancing the science but also thinking about how we communicate that science to the public. We’re building on fantastic work already done by colleagues, and I’m looking forward to helping shape how we do engagement, support researchers in thinking about public impact, and make sure that the public voice is part of the research process at all levels.

How do you like to unwind or recharge outside of work?

I have a lot of interests, so it’s hard to pick just one! I’m a proud plant parent and love spending time tending to my ever-growing indoor jungle. I also enjoy knitting and crochet, as it’s a great way to relax and create something tangible. When I’m in the mood for inspiration, I like visiting galleries and exhibitions, and when I want to escape into another world, I dive into Dungeons & Dragons. It’s a brilliant mix of storytelling, creativity, and collaboration – much like public engagement!

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