Clinical Research

Includes retrospective studies looking for patterns in patient treatments and outcomes, operations and patient safety research, dose measurements using theoretical “phantoms” (like crash test dummies, but for radiation dose), treatment-related software development, clinical trials and more.

Clinical trials in Radiation Oncology

Current clinical trials at UNC

Studies that are currently enrolling patients (as of January 6, 2026)

Tumor Boards

Patients who come to UNC will have not only their own oncologist but an entire multidisciplinary team of different cancer specialists managing their treatment. Each patient’s medical case is discussed at a disease-specific tumor board, where 6 to 10 specialty physicians with different areas of expertise hear and discuss the case before treatment begins. This process helps eliminate errors and ensures that all reasonable treatment options are considered—including experimental clinical trials—so that your own doctor can provide the best possible care for both you and your fellow patients.

List of tumor boards

• Clinical Trials Day 2020

  Wednesday, May 20, 2020 marked this year’s Clinical Trials Day, an event that raises awareness of the importance of clinical trials and honors those whose work helps advance public health and medical progress. Thank you to Radiation Oncology’s team of clinical research professionals!

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  Sud and Gupta work to simplify cervical cancer screening

    Rising 3rd year resident Dr. Shivani Sud and her faculty advisor physician-scientist Dr. Gaorav Gupta received recognition recently from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center for their research into a simplified screening test for cervical cancer. The test, based on a simple blood or urine sample, detects the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) the … Read more

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  Sud receives Lineberger Development Grants

  Congratulations to radiation oncology second-year resident Dr. Shivani Sud for her receipt of not one, but two, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center development grants in support of her research on the treatment of cervical cancer. The first award, “Application of circulating HPV DNA testing to management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia” is in collaboration with her … Read more

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  Chera and Gupta presentation on HPV-linked cancer featured at ASTRO

  UNC radiation oncologists Drs. Bhisham Chera and Gaorav Gupta presented early results of a clinical trial at this week’s American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting in San Antonio, TX evaluating a blood test for HPV-linked oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer of the back of the throat. Their findings suggest that a simple … Read more

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  Chen presents prostate cancer research findings at ASCO

  More frequent screening following treatment does not improve long-term patient outcomes

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  Kyle Wang recognized as 2018 Pope Clinical Trainee

  For his work on trying to reduce side effects of whole brain radiotherapy

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  Kyle Wang receives UNC Lineberger Developmental Award

  Will research ways of reducing dry mouth in patients receiving whole brain radiotherapy

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  Chen awarded $12M from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

  Will compare different types of radiation treatments for prostate cancer

• High profile publications by Radiation Oncology physicians

  In recent months, radiation oncologists Drs. Ronald Chen and Andrew Wang published important research in the high profile journals Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Nature Nanotechnology. Dr. Chen’s study in JAMA examined quality-of-life outcomes for different types … Continued

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  Annual ASCO meeting includes UNC Radiation Oncology presentations

  The Department of Radiation Oncology was again well-represented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting June 2-6, 2017 in Chicago. The ASCO Annual Meeting brings together more than 30,000 oncologists and other oncology professionals to discuss state-of-the-art … Continued

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  Caster awarded Pope Clinical Fellowship

  Congratulations to radiation oncology resident and physician-scientist Dr. Joe Caster on his recent selection as a 2016 John William Pope Clinical Fellow. Three fellowship awardees, chosen annually based on nominations and voting by oncology-related department chairs and division chiefs, are … Continued

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  Radiation Oncology presentations at George F. Shelton Resident Research Symposium

  Residents Joe Caster, MD and Kyle Wang, MD participated

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  Radiation Oncology represented at annual ASCO meeting

  The Department of Radiation Oncology was well-represented at the annual American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting June 3-7, 2016 in Chicago. A total of twelve abstracts were accepted for presentation, with more than half authored or co-authored by our … Continued

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  Falchook receives Pope Clinical Fellows Award

  Chief Resident Dr. Aaron Falchook is one of three recipients of the 2015 Pope Clinical Fellows Award, a prestigious honor recognizing excellence in cancer-related research by aspiring physician-scientists. This UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center award is given annually, with each … Continued

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  Chang featured in UNC Endeavors magazine

  Congratulations to physics division director Dr. Sha Chang for being featured in UNC Endeavors magazine, the official research and creative activity magazine of UNC-Chapel Hill. Her work, in collaboration with Dr. Otto Zhou, David Godschalk Distinguished Professor of Physics and … Continued

• Gastrointestinal Cancer SPORE

  Goal: use of combined modality therapy in the treatment of diseases of the GI tract, and assessing possible biological indicators of treatment response.

• Breast Cancer SPORE

  Goal: use a team approach to review cases before treatment begins, rather than after treatment decisions have been made.

• Price and colleagues win a 2013 NC Cancer Hospital Endowment Fund Award

  For research to reduce treatment discomfort for patients receiving radiotherapy for gynecological cancers.

• $3.3M to study prostate cancer therapies

  Comparative study will focus on minority, underserved populations.

• Apisarnthanarax, Brady: Best poster awards at 2008 UNC Lineberger retreat

  Dr. Jim Apisarnthanarax, a recent resident radiation oncologist, was awarded First Place for best clinical/translational poster at the 2008 UNC Lineberger Annual Scientific Retreat. Dr. Donita Brady, a recent doctoral recipient from Dr. Adrienne Cox’s lab, was awarded First Place for best basic science poster at the 2008 UNC Lineberger Annual Scientific Retreat.