Our Varian research program supports 300+ investigator-initiated research projects to help develop novel ideas, probe clinical evidence of the benefits of radiation, and explore key data on emerging trends.
Application process
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Our Scientific Review Committees meets regularly. Evaluation criteria include: alignment with Varian strategy and roadmap, novelty, cost effectiveness, disruptive potential, fit within the overall portfolio of research projects, and potential to advance the field of radiation oncology. Successful proposals are well written with clear objectives, methodology, milestones, and deliverables. Funding is competitive using a fair market value analysis per project submitted.
If approved, you will receive a Research Agreement draft that details the contractual terms of the award, including the management of intellectual property, responsibility on clinical matters, confidentiality, project budget, payment schedule, requirements for progress reports, etc. The project only begins once the Research Agreement is negotiated and signed.
Inquiries regarding specific projects, please contact the appropriate Geo/Topic Specialist listed under Research Contacts below.
Technology & clinical research topics and priorities
We support a broad range of clinical and technology research. Our interests include, but are not limited to, these topics:
General
- Resource-constrained areas
- Clinical Evidence/Trials
- Cost Effectiveness to expand RT indications
- Value-Based Care
- Operational Studies (reducing infrastructure complexities, reducing clinician burden)
Adaptive radiotherapy
- Treatment quality (clinically meaningful metrics), compare to historical
- Outcome modeling (NCTP, TCP, etc.)
- Automated target contouring
- Deformable image registration and/or dose accumulation
- Longitudinal response assessment
- Novel approaches pushing the therapeutic envelope (shrinking margins, increasing tumor doses)
- Functional adaptation (multi-modality imaging applications using adaptive tools)
- Novel use of adaptive tools
Artificial intelligence
- Increasing safety of systems and processes
- Error detection and augmentation (treatment planning, data transfer, imaging, treatment delivery)
- Decreasing planning and treatment variability
- Uncertainty quantification
- Assisted plan review
- Novel algorithms, benefits and applications
- AI agents
- Reinforcement, continuous or incremental or transfer learning
- Clinical benefits
- Outcomes prediction
Cancer care management
- AI-based workflow optimization
- Patient Reported Outcomes and impact on care
- Elevating patient engagement
- AI-based scheduling and resource utilization
- Survivorship focused research
- Elevating outcomes using digital technology
Clinical operations
- Analysis of care patterns, efficiency studies, etc
- Quantifying benefits of software tools
- Centralized treatment planning
Clinical studies
- Use and value of new Varian technologies and solutions (e.g. Hypersight, RapidArc Dynamic, Ethos, etc.)
- Evaluation and clinical evidence generation on novel applications and radiation using linear accelerators for non-oncologic
- Use of SBRT, especially for oligometastatic disease
- Use of various SFRT to expand the indication
- Health Economic and cost effectiveness studies (e.g., RT vs non-RT modalities)
- Clinical studies in precision medicine, incorporating genomic and/or radiomic information into Varian systems
- Evaluation of novel applications of radiation using linear accelerators for non- oncologic diseases (functional SRS, pain, OCD, etc)
Imaging
- Technology comparison of imaging techniques for specific applications
- Unique multi-modal imaging applications
- Site-specific imaging solutions for unmet clinical needs
- Incorporating imaging with dynamic trajectories during
Motion management
- DTS for motion monitoring during treatment
- Soft tissue tracking/monitoring during treatment delivery
- Unique methods for noninvasive internal motion monitoring
- Respiratory regulation techniques/studies
- Optimal breath-hold approaches
Automation
- Target segmentation
- Identification of crucial inputs
- Evidence-based decision making
Research priorities
Innovation in medical research and clinical trials
Clinical radiation oncology
- Adaptive, stereotactic, and proton therapies
- RT for metastatic disease
- Biologically targeted RT
- New treatment combinations
- Spatially fractionated radiotherapy
- Access to care
- PROs
- Cost effectiveness
Technology
- Adaptive RT
- Incorporation of multi-modality imaging
- Motion management
- Treatment planning and optimization
- Targets auto-segmentation
- Uncertainty quantification
- Simplified QA
- Real world evidence
Interventional solutions
- Integration of imaging and interventional solutions
- Differentiation of interventional therapies
- Expansion of treatment indications
- Combination of IS and RO
Translational science
- Combination therapies (Drug-RT combinations)
- Next generation radiobiology (Flash, SFRT)
Research contacts
Interventional solutions
Laura Cross
Medical Science Liaison
Region: EMEA
Email: laura.cross@varian.com
Sean McCabe
Medical Science Liaison
Region: North America
Email: sean.mccabe@varian.com
Hui Chen
Medical Science Liaison
Region: China
Focus: Interventional Solutions
Email: hui.chen@varian.com
Ivan Loh
Medical Science Liaison
Region: Asia APAC
Email: ivan.loh@varian.com
Radiation oncology
Michel Closset
Sr. Manager, Medical/Clinical Science
Region: EMEA
Email: michel.closset@varian.com
Johnny Cheng
Sr. Medical/Clinical Science Liaison
Region: APAC
Email: johnny.cheng@varian.com
Translational science
Marta Vilalta
Sr Mgr, Radiobiology
Region: Global
Email: marta.vilalta@varian.com