Press release posted 20 November 2025
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating a double success after its radiotherapy clinical trials team was named both North West Radiography Team of the Year and UK Radiography Team of the Year by the Society of Radiographers.
The awards recognise excellence, innovation and teamwork within the profession, celebrating individuals and teams who make an outstanding contribution to radiography and patient care. This double award win highlights The Christie's leadership in radiotherapy research, patient-centred care and professional development for its staff.
Over the past year, the radiotherapy clinical trials team has transformed access to radiotherapy trials across Greater Manchester and Cheshire by introducing a decentralised model.
Patients can now take part in more radiotherapy clinical trials than ever before at local centres in Oldham, Salford and Macclesfield, giving dozens of people the opportunity to join potentially life-changing studies closer to home and making the research trials more convenient and inclusive.
"The team was so pleased to win this award as recognition of our efforts to enhance patients' experiences with radiotherapy," said Principal Radiographer Julie Webb. "To be acknowledged by our radiography colleagues makes us incredibly proud. The whole team is passionate about delivering high-quality care."
"The Christie is a very special place to work because of its 'can-do' attitude. Every member of staff shares the goal of improving outcomes and patient experience. Being able to offer research opportunities at our local centres means a great deal to patients who value treatment closer to home. We've worked across several disciplines to solve challenges and make this happen."
The team's success is underpinned by their commitment to improving inclusivity and diversity within radiotherapy research. They conducted a study to map the diversity of patients participating in clinical trials compared to those receiving standard treatment, examining factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, disease group, and geographical location. The team identified an opportunity to improve diversity by expanding access to patients treated at local radiotherapy centres.
Each new study is now reviewed for its potential to be opened at local centres, and the team have worked to overcome traditional barriers by enabling local medical teams to assess trial patients and share data securely with the central site. Christie radiographers will also travel to local centres to recruit and consent patients. This proactive approach has increased the number of patients able to access radiotherapy clinical trials.
Alongside their focus on patient inclusion, the team is developing a new radiotherapy trials patient dashboard, a digital tool designed to improve awareness and accessibility of clinical trials across the North West. The dashboard will allow patients to find information about ongoing studies easily and, in time, may support referrals between regional providers. The project, led on behalf of the North West Radiotherapy Specialised Services Commissioning Network, aims to further integrate clinical research opportunities across the region.
Collaboration is central to the team's ethos, and they work closely with radiotherapy physicists, oncologists and research nurses.
The team are also helping to educate and inspire the next generation of radiographers at the University of Liverpool. Their teaching, mentorship and conference presentations continue to shape the future radiography workforce.
Looking ahead, the team's priorities for 2026 include continuing to expand access to clinical trials at local radiotherapy centres, seeking new opportunities to collaborate with clinical trial teams outside The Christie to share best practice and develop new joint projects, and further work to address barriers to trial access for underserved groups. Increasing awareness of clinical trials and promoting inclusivity remain key aims for the year ahead.
The Christie's Medical Director, Dr Neil Bayman, said: "We are thrilled that the radiotherapy clinical trials team has won the Radiography Team of the Year from the Society of Radiographers.
"Their achievements embody The Christie's commitment to innovation, inclusion and delivering exceptional patient care. It shows how our research-driven radiotherapy team is making a difference to patients across the region and beyond."