By Spencer Goodman, on behalf of the Society and College of Radiographers
A radiographer has delivered an Interdisciplinary Award Lecture at the 2025 ESTRO Congress, titled 'Raising Quality in Radiotherapy'.
Elizabeth Miles’ prestigious lecture highlighted her work with the Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance Group (RTTQA), showcasing the impact of their work.
Spencer Goodman, SoR professional officer was in attendance at the ESTRO 2025 Annual Meeting in Vienna on behalf of the SoR.
'A proud and meaningful occasion'
Mr. Goodman said: “Among the many highlights of the congress, one moment stood out in particular: seeing Liz Miles, a UK Therapeutic Radiographer, receive the Interdisciplinary Award.
“Having followed Liz’s work over the years, it was a proud and meaningful occasion to witness her contribution recognised on such a respected international platform.”
The Interdisciplinary Award, established in 2023, recognises radiotherapy professionals who make outstanding contributions beyond their own area of specialism. It shines a spotlight on work that connects disciplines, strengthens collaboration, and ultimately improves outcomes for patients.
Each recipient is invited to deliver a lecture at ESTRO, and this year Ms. Miles did just that—with clarity, warmth, and a clear message about the value of working together.
'A landmark moment'
As lead for the National Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance (RTTQA) Group, Ms. Miles has been central to shaping how radiotherapy clinical trials are delivered and supported across the UK.
Her career journey—from working across pre-treatment, planning, and treatment in London, to her early involvement in the START trial—has always reflected a multi-professional, patient-focused approach.
The START trial was a landmark moment, not just for Ms. Miles, but for UK radiotherapy research as it began to shift quality assurance beyond dosimetry to consider the full treatment pathway.
Supporting over 120 trials
Ms. Miles has since led the development of a national QA model, centrally funded by the NIHR since 2010, that has supported over 120 trials across all tumour sites. Under her leadership, RTTQA has worked to streamline QA processes, reduce delays in trial setup, and ensure robust standards in imaging, contouring, planning and treatment delivery.
Her role has spanned clinical, academic, and strategic spheres—collaborating with professional bodies, researchers, and trial units to ensure radiotherapy research continues to evolve and deliver.
She has also worked internationally, currently serving as chair of the Global Harmonization Group, where she helps lead efforts to align RTQA processes across borders.
Alongside this, Ms. Miles has made a lasting contribution to mentoring the next generation of researchers—supporting RTTs into PhD study, academic leadership roles, and wider research engagement through their involvement in trial QA.
Her award lecture, 'Raising Quality in Radiotherapy Together', reflected both the scale of her impact and the principles she has championed throughout her career: collaboration, consistency, and raising standards across the board.
'Well-deserved recognition'
Charlotte Beardmore, executive director of professional policy said: “On behalf of the Society and College of Radiographers, I want to offer our sincere congratulations to Liz on this well-deserved recognition. It is a significant moment for her—and a proud one for our fantastic profession."
Angela Baker, head of radiotherapy Barts Health NHS Trust and chair of the Society of Radiographers Radiotherapy Advisory Group, said: "Liz’s impact goes well beyond research. Through her leadership in the RTTQA group, she has not only developed future researchers but also helped shape future leaders.
“Both myself and Dan Megias, now head of radiotherapy at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, were fortunate to work under Liz’s guidance for several years. The experience and mentorship we gained during that time have been instrumental in our own leadership journeys."
(Image: (L-R) Angela Baker, Elizabeth Miles, and Yat Tsang)