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Dr Nicholas Courtier

Senior Lecturer: Radiotherapy

School of Healthcare Sciences

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am an experienced researcher and teacher of radiotherapy & oncology and am a registered therapeutic radiographer. I teach on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and speak at international events. I have strong professional links with Society & College of Radiographers and am Associate Editor of Radiography journal. 

I am involved in funded research projects, and am experienced as a doctoral supervisor with experience of PhD examination in the UK and overseas.

My research expertise is primarily in quantitative and mixed methods, which often involve multi-disciplinary collaboration and patient participation. I am interested in toxicity associated with radiotherapy treatment and supportive interventions to help people with cancer live more active and fulfilling lives. Inequalities in access to, experience of, and outcomes from cancer care forms a second research area. 

I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students in areas relating to:

  • Theory and practice of radiotherapy and radiography
  • Experience of cancer treatment
  • Inequalities in cancer care

Publication

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2016

2015

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

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Research

My profile as an independent researcher has been established on a programme of work looking at radiotherapy-related fatigue – progressing from understanding the psychological and radio-biological causes to identification of host immunological mediators and development of novel methods to predict and minimise fatigue.

A second stream seeks to explore the experience and outcomes of people with cognitive and physical impairments accessing cancer services.

A third areas of work is technical radiotherapy research with a translational focus on reduced toxicity.

Work has been funded by Tenovus Cancer Care, Welsh Government, Cancer Research UK, College of Radiographers and Research Capacity Building Collaboration.

Teaching

I am an experienced Senior Lecturer in radiotherapy & oncology and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Teaching expertise at undergraduate and postgraduate levels includes radiotherapy treatment planning, lung and breast cancer and research methods. I teach on a range of programmes within, and external to, Cardiff University School of Healthcare Sciences. Between 2012 and 2018 I was part of a small teaching team that delivered the University of Malta pre-registration radiotherapy programme.

I supervise a wide range of research projects with undergraduate and taught and research postgraduate students. I have experience of doctoral examination in the UK and overseas.

Biography

My professional background is therapeutic radiography. I have been a lecturer in Radiotherapy & Oncology at Cardiff University since 2011. I completed my PhD in 2010 – Fatigue during radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer and its relationship to irradiated volumes, IL-6sR and anxiety and depression: towards a prognostic model.

Honours and awards

  • Associate Editor of Radiography 2019
  • Future Leaders in Cancer Research Academy 2018
  • Enriching Student Life Award nominated 2018
  • Wales Radiography Team of the Year 2016
  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy 2013
  • Research Capacity Building Collaboration PhD Fellowship 2006
  • BSc Radiotherapy & Oncology 1st class Honours

Professional memberships

  • Society and College of radiographers (SCoR) (since 2006)
  • Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) (since 2006)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA (since 2013)
  • Breast Radiotherapy Interest Group (BRIG) (since 2011)

Committees and reviewing

Associate Editor of Radiography journal

Grant reviewer for:

  • College of Radiographers Industrial Partnership Scheme (2011–present)
  • College of Radiographers PhD Fellowship (2017–present)
  • American Society of Radiologic Technologists Foundation CoR International Collaborative Clinical Research Grant 2019

Journal reviewer for:

  • Supportive Care in Cancer
  • International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
  • Radiotherapy in Practice
  • Psycho-Oncology

Member of

  • Member of Welsh Cancer Centre Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Group (2019–present)
  • College of Radiographers Research Committee (2011–2016)
  • Trial Management Group for the Phase I-II Isotoxic Accelerated Radiotherapy (ISTART) Trial (2010–2018)
  • Steering Group for Tenovus Cancer Callback Project (2012–2015)
  • Breast Radiotherapy Interest Group (BRIG) (2011–present)

Supervisions

I have supervised five PhD students to successful completion. I am currently supervising three PhD students in the areas of radiotherapy, radiation dose optimisation and radiography.

I am interested in supervising students in the areas of:

  • Radiotherapy theory and practice
  • Management of toxicity related to radiotherapy treatment
  • Experience of cancer treatment
  • Inequalities in access to, experience of, and outcomes from cancer care
  • Radiography  

Current and most recent doctoral students:

'The extent and experience of altered taste during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer'

'Rural radiography practice: exploration of experiences of radiographers in Ghana'

'Couples' experiences of prostate cacer tretament in Malta: a descriptive qualitative study'

'Developing an evidence-based approach to neonatal and paediatric radiation dose optimisation methods'

'Role extension opportunities in diagnostic radiography in Ghana and potential to impact on patient care'

'Global research on the impact of dermatological disease (GRIDD): development and validation of a patient-centred impact measure for adults with skin conditions'