Joining the ESTRO biology committee is an excellent opportunity for those eager to contribute to the advancement of radiobiology within ESTRO and the broader radiation oncology community. The committee plays a key role in shaping the future of radiobiology, so we invite dedicated professionals with expertise and passion to apply.

In the interview below, Professor Heidi Lyng, chair of the committee, provides an overview of its activities and contributions to ESTRO’s mission. If you believe you are suited to this role, we encourage you to apply and become part of this dynamic team!

Interview with Heidi Lyng, chair of the biology committee

What inspired you to join the ESTRO biology committee, and how has your experience been so far?

I was a member of the scientific advisory group for several years before I joined the committee. I saw the importance of the committee’s work to make the biology field more visible in ESTRO and wanted to be a part of that effort. As a committee member, I work with highly motivated and leading experts in the radiobiology field to reach this goal, which is very inspiring. I have learned a lot about ESTRO and how it works as an organisation, which I find very interesting. I think it is important for ESTRO to have biology as a part, not only for scientific but also for educational purposes.

How do you see the role of biology research evolving within radiation oncology over the next few years?

I believe biology research will play an increasingly important role in radiation oncology in the coming years. We are in an era of radiotherapy improvements that are evolving, thanks to advancements in radiation delivery techniques and biologically adapted combination therapies. At the same time it has become clear that to exploit fully these advancements in the clinic, we need to understand better the biology behind tumour responses and normal tissue complications.

How does the committee contribute to shaping the future of radiobiology within ESTRO and the broader oncology community?

An important arena for this is the programme for the annual meeting. We aim to increase the number of biology talks within the interdisciplinary track and to focus on high scientific quality and relevance for radiation oncology. We also invite speakers from outside the radiation field to the biology track, and we aim for the best ones, regardless of country. This will help us to learn from other biology disciplines and is important as it will make ESTRO attractive to biologists.

We also want to promote the engagement of biologists in the newly launched ESTRO focus groups, to give biologists the chance to influence the activities of these groups and to increase the awareness of biology among oncologists and physicists. Another recently established activity in the committee is the joint bio-physics workshop. The workshop was held for the second time this autumn with a focus on collaboration and the exchange of knowledge across the two disciplines.

Join the Biology committee!

Access the application form here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YXLLDP9