CARO and Elekta award $75,000 fellowship for lung cancer research

The Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO), along with international medical-technology group Elekta, are pleased to award the 2009 CARO-Elekta Research Fellowship to Radiation Oncologist, Dr. David Palma. The $75,000 fellowship, provided by Elekta, will enable Dr. Palma to conduct research with the Uro-Oncology Unit at the VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam Radiation Oncology with Dr. Suresh Senan. His research will revolve around Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer.

"In creating this fellowship, CARO and Elekta have provided an outstanding opportunity for new radiation oncology graduates who wish to pursue further research training.", said David, "This fellowship will allow me to gain research experience from two different institutions abroad. Dr. Senan's group at the Vrije University Medical Centre in Amsterdam has a strong lung cancer radiotherapy program, focused on clinical trials and the evaluation and implementation of new radiotherapy delivery technology. This training will fit well with the academic program in Boston, hopefully providing a strong foundation for a future research career."

This is the third year that the CARO-Elekta Research Fellowship Program has been awarded. The fellowship will provide research and salary support to Dr. Palma for a period of one year. His research is endorsed by both CARO and Elekta as being directly relevant to the current and future practice of radiation oncology, both in Canada and abroad.

"We are thrilled that CARO has been able to continue offering this fellowship in conjunction with Elekta for a third year." said Dr. Michael Milosevic, CARO President, "This fellowship program enables deserving individuals such as Dr. Palma to conduct important research and further their training and development in radiation oncology in a manner that will directly benefit Canadians with cancer in the future."