WE‐G‐BRB‐01: The Importance of NIH Funding in Innovation in Radiation Therapy

Abstract

Over the past 20 years the NIH has funded individual grants, program projects grants, and clinical trials which have been instrumental in advancing patient care. The ways that each grant mechanism lends itself to the different phases of translating research into clinical practice will be described. Major technological innovations, such as IMRT and proton therapy, have been advanced with R01‐type and P01‐type funding and will be discussed. Similarly, the role of program project grants in identifying and addressing key hypotheses on the potential of 3D conformal therapy, normal tissue‐guided dose escalation and motion management will be described. An overview will be provided regarding how these technological innovations have been applied to multi‐institutional NIH‐sponsored trials. Finally, the panel will discuss regarding which research questions should be funded by the NIH to inspire the next advances in radiation therapy.Learning Objectives: Understand the different funding mechanisms of the NIH Learn about research advances that have led to innovation in delivery Review achievements due to NIH‐funded program project grants in radiotherapy over the past 20 years Understand example advances achieved with multi‐institutional clinical trials NIH