David Geraint Lewis

Biography

Academic Qualifications

• B.Sc. Physics, Birmingham University (1981)
• D.Phil. Nuclear Physics, Oxford University (1985)

Current Position (since 2020)

• Head of Integrated Radiotherapy Solution Assurance, Transforming Cancer Services Programme, Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff.

Previous Positions (1985-2019)

• Head of Medical Physics Department, Velindre Cancer Centre, Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff (2005-2019)
• Head of Treatment Planning Section, Medical Physics Department, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff (2000-2005)
• Clinical Scientist (Radiotherapy Physics), Medical Physics Department, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff (1994-2000)
• Wellcome Trust Research Fellow in Medical Physics, Swansea University (1991-1994)
• Applications Software Engineer, BP Exploration, London (1988-1991)
• MRC/CRC Research Fellow in Radiotherapy Imaging, Institute of Cancer Research, London (1985-1988)

Professional memberships

• Fellow, Institute of Physics (FInstP) and Chartered Physicist (CPhys)
• Fellow, Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (FIPEM)
• Registered Clinical Scientist (Health Professions Council)

Committees and reviewing

• Member of Welsh Government Scientific Advisory Committee (WSAC) on Health (2008-2019)
• Chair of WSAC Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Sub-Committee (2008-10 & 2017-19)
• Member of WSAC Clinical Oncology Sub-Committee (2005-2017)
• Radiotherapy Physics Lead (Cardiff), UK National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance Group (2011-2017)
• Member of IPEM Professional Committee (2009-11)
• Chair of Institute of Physics Computational Physics Group (CPG) (2007-10)
• Journal Referee for Physics in Medicine and Biology, Medical Physics, Radiotherapy and Oncology
• Book Review Editor, IPEM SCOPE Magazine (2001-2005)

Teaching

• Lecturer on Therapeutic Applications of Radiation in Medicine on Cardiff University B.Sc. Physics with Medical Physics course (2005-2017)
• Lecturer in Radiotherapy Physics to Clinical Oncology Registrars (Wales and SW England) undertaking Fellowship of Royal College of Radiologists examination course (2000-2005)
• Co-organiser and Lecturer on Swansea University M.Sc. in Medical Radiation Physics (1993-1996)
• Co-organiser and Lecturer on Swansea University M.Sc. in Environmental Analysis and Health (1993-1996)

Summary

My research has involved various aspects of the application of radiation physics and engineering in medicine.

This has included the use of Monte Carlo modelling and other computational techniques for improved accuracy in calculation and verification of radiotherapy dose distributions in cancer patients and the quality assurance of multi-centre clinical trials involving radiotherapy.

Grants and Awards

Project Title: Development of Monte Carlo Techniques for the Verification of Conformal Radiotherapy using the UK e-Science GRID

• Award Title: Responsive Mode Grant
• Funding Body: Engineeringand Physical Sciences Research Council
• Co-Applicant: Prof D.W.Walker (Cardiff University)
• Dates: 2005-2008
• Size of Grant: £399,000

Project Title: Verification of Stereotactic Radiotherapy

• Award Title: PhD Studentship (awarded to A.E.Millin)
• Funding Body: Cancer Research Wales
• Co-Applicant: Dr C.W.Smith (Velindre Hospital Cardiff)
• Dates: 2004-2009 (part-time)
• Size of Grant: £15,000

Project Title: Verification of IMRT

• Award Title: PhD Studentship (awarded to R.S.Cufflin)
• Funding Body: Cancer Research Wales
• Co-Applicant: Dr C.W.Smith (Velindre Hospital Cardiff)
• Dates: 2004-2009 (part-time)
• Size of Grant: £15,000

Project Title: MONTE CARLO PORTAL DOSIMETRY

• Award Title: PhD Studentship (awarded to P.W.Chin)
• Funding Body: Cancer Research Wales
• Co-Applicant Dr C.W.Smith (Velindre Hospital Cardiff)
• Dates: 2002-2005
• Size of Grant: £45,100

Project Title: A MONTE CARLO INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCURACY OF INTENSITY MODULATED RADIOTHERAPY

• Award Title: PhD Studentship (awarded to E.Spezi)
• Funding Body: Cancer Research Wales
• Co-Applicant: Dr C.W.Smith (Velindre Hospital Cardiff)
• Dates: 1999-2002
• Size of Grant: £40,000

Project Title: CALCULATION AND MEASUREMENT OF RADIOTHERAPY DOSE IN 3D

• Award Ttitle: PhD Studentship (awarded to P.A. Love)
• Funding Body: Cancer Research Wales
• Co-Applicant: Dr C.W.Smith (Velindre Hospital Cardiff)
• Dates: 1997-2000
• Size of Grant: £45,060

Project Title: DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR IN-VIVO ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS

• Award Title: Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship (awarded to D.G.Lewis)
• Funding Body: The Wellcome Trust
• Co-applicant: Prof. J.Dutton (University of Wales Swansea)
• Dates: 1991-1994
• Size of Grant: £85,000

Supervision

I am interested in co-supervising postgraduate research students in the areas of: 

• Medical radiation physics and engineering
• Medical imaging physics and engineering
• Radiotherapy physics

Current supervision

Past projects

I have co-supervised the following PhD projects (at Cardiff University, unless otherwise stated):

• Advanced personalised 3D dosimetry for a clinical trial in Peptide Radionuclide Therapy – Salvatore Berenato (awarded 2020)
• Development of techniques for verification of advanced radiotherapy by Portal Dosimetry – Yasmin Radzi (awarded 2018)
• Radiotherapy dose calculation in Oesophagael Cancer: comparison of Analytical and Monte Carlo methods – Dewi Johns (awarded 2016)
• Verification of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy – Rebecca Cufflin (awarded 2012)
• Verification of Stereotactic Radiotherapy – Anthony Millin (awarded 2011)
• A Monte Carlo investigation of the accuracy of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy – Emiliano Spezi (University of Wales College of Medicine, awarded 2003)
• Calculation and measurement of radiotherapy dose in three dimensions – Peter Love (University of Wales College of Medicine, awarded 2001)
• Polarized x rays for in vivo measurement of heavy metals – Ayhan Kilic (University of Wales Swansea - awarded 1995)