Dr Nick Courtier
Lecturer: Radiotherapy
- Email:
- courtiern@cardiff.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- +44 (0)29 206 87566
- Location:
- 13.16, 13th Floor, Eastgate House, 35-43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB
My research centres on the toxicities associated with radiotherapy treatment. A specific focus is the neuro-behavioural symptoms, such as fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction, as experienced by patients with early breast cancer. This work has followed a staged approach that has considered symptom aetiology, prediction and ultimately amelioration. The research methods used to reflect these aims have moved from quantitative observational techniques to experimental testing.
A further research activity aims to improve the quality of survivorship for teenagers and young adults after treatment for cancer. The broad aim is to record appropriate patient-reported outcomes and experiences with the potential to evaluate current teenage care pathways and identify models of aftercare that support normative psycho-social functioning.
I graduated in 2006 from Cardiff University with first class honours in Radiotherapy and Oncology. I continued my studies at the School of Healthcare Studies, Cardiff University, for a PhD looking at radiotherapy-related fatigue (2006 - 2010). During this time I worked clinically one-day-a-week in clinical practice.
From 2010 I have been employed by the department of Radiography as a research assistant. My current research extends of my doctoral work , considering the amelioration of radiotherapy-related fatigue and adverse psychosocial outcomes associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment.
2019
- Courtier, N.et al. 2019. The volume of liver irradiated during modern free-breathing breast radiotherapy: implications for theory and practice. Radiography 25(2), pp. 103-107. (10.1016/j.radi.2018.12.003)
2018
- Courtier, N.et al. 2018. Soluble interleukin-6 receptor mediated fatigue highlights immunological heterogeneity of patients with early breast cancer who undergo radiation therapy. Advances in Radiation Oncology 3(4), pp. 552-558. (10.1016/j.adro.2018.05.007)
- Courtier, N.et al. 2018. ACTIVE: a randomised feasibility trial of a behavioural intervention to reduce fatigue in women undergoing radiotherapy for early breast cancer: study protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 4, article number: 85. (10.1186/s40814-018-0275-7)
- Lester, J. F.et al. 2018. Initial results of the phase ib/II, I-START trial: Isotoxic accelerated radiotherapy for the treatment of stage II-IIIb NSCLC. [Meeting Abstract}. Journal of Clinical Oncology 36(15_Sup), article number: e20551. (10.1200/JCO.2018.36.15_suppl.e20551)
2016
- Courtier, N.et al. 2016. Cancer and dementia: an exploratory study of the experience of cancer treatment in people with dementia. Psycho Oncology 25(9), pp. 1079-1084. (10.1002/pon.4212)
- Schembri, A.et al. 2016. The impact of breast size on mean lung dose for patients receiving tangential radiotherapy to the whole breast. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice 15(2), pp. 181-188. (10.1017/S1460396916000091)
2015
- Mantzourani, E. D.et al. 2015. Perceptions of faculty in health care and social sciences on teaching international students. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 7(5), pp. 635-644. (10.1016/j.cptl.2015.06.018)
2013
- Courtier, N.et al. 2013. A prognostic tool to predict fatigue in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. The Breast 22(4), pp. 504-509. (10.1016/j.breast.2012.10.002)
- Courtier, N.et al. 2013. Psychological and immunological characteristics of fatigued women undergoing radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer 21(1), pp. 173-181. (10.1007/s00520-012-1508-6)
2012
- Lester, J. F.et al. 2012. 156 The I-START trial: ISoToxic Accelerated RadioTherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer [Abstract]. Lung Cancer 75(S1), pp. S51. (10.1016/S0169-5002(12)70157-5)
2011
- Courtier, N.et al. 2011. Hepatic Irradiation during Modern Radiotherapy Protocols after Breast Conservation [Abstract]. Clinical Oncology 23(3), pp. 199-203. (10.1016/j.clon.2011.01.363)
2010
- Courtier, N. 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. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2009
- Courtier, N., Gambling, T. and Mason, M. D. 2009. Fatigue, depression and physical activity in breast radiotherapy patients: Are they explained by sickness behaviour? [Abstract]. Clinical Oncology 21(3), pp. 251-251. (10.1016/j.clon.2009.01.001)
2008
- Courtier, N., Gambling, T. and Mason, M. D. 2008. Acute fatigue in a breast radiotherapy cohort and its relationship to irradiated volumes, body mass index and biological factors. Presented at: National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference, Birmingham, UK, 5-8 October 2008.
- Courtier, N., Gambling, T. and Mason, M. D. 2008. Joy in repetition: the effect of advances in statistical software on the analysis of repeated measures studies in radiotherapy research. Presented at: Society & College of Radiographers Radiotherapy Conference, Brighton, 2 February 2008.
2007
- Courtier, N. and Mundy, L. A. 2007. The volume of the liver irradiated during breast radiotherapy. Presented at: Society & College of Radiographers Radiotherapy Conference, Brighton, 1 February 2007.
My PhD work was looking at aetiological mechanisms that underlie fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, as a precursor to developing a model that predicts those most at risk from this debilitating symptom. Investigations centred on a postulated inflammatory response via the induction and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines at the biochemical level and associated adaptations at the behavioural level.
I am currently applying for funding to conduct a Phase II trial with the aim of optimising the delivery of a psychological intervention to attenuate fatigue.
Grant funding
- Society & College of Radiographers Project Grant. Acute fatigue in a breast radiotherapy cohort and its relationship to irradiated volumes, body mass index and biological factors: towards a predictive model. (£5000) (May 2007)
- Research Capacity Building Collaboration Wales PhD studentship. Fatigue during radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer and its relationship to irradiated volumes, IL-6sR and anxiety and depression: towards a prognostic model (£60,000 over 3 years) (June 2006)