RAPID-RT is an innovative research programme
Working with patients, carers, members of the public, and clinicians, RAPID-RT aims to develop an inclusive method to test the effects of small changes to treatment protocols on patients’ outcomes, and determine the method’s suitability for wider application in the NHS.
This method is called rapid learning. The rapid-learning approach includes all patients regardless of their age, medical conditions, and level of fitness.
We hope rapid learning will provide an inclusive alternative to traditional, gold-standard randomised controlled trials to monitor and improve patient outcomes at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
The RAPID-RT clinical study opened in April 2023, inviting all patients with stage I to III lung cancer receiving standard radiotherapy in include their data in this study using informed opt-out processes. Up to end April 2024, we have recruited over 500 patients.
RAPID-RT is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (Grant Reference number NIHR202024).
About RAPID-RT
RAPID-RT looks at the practicalities of using real-world data (patient data that are already being collected in the clinic as part of routine care) to measure how changes in radiotherapy practices are altering patient outcomes.
The RAPID-RT programme has two main aims.
1) New rapid and inclusive testing methods
We want to develop and test a new method for quickly looking at how changes to the standard of care in radiotherapy treatments for patients with lung cancer alter patient survival and side effects.
We hope this will provide an inclusive alternative to traditional, gold-standard randomised controlled trials to monitor and improve patient outcomes at The Christie Hospital.
2) Analysing benefits to patients
We want to look at the practicalities and challenges of how this method could be used to benefit patients receiving:
- radiotherapy for lung cancer
- radiotherapy to other tumour sites
- other treatment types in healthcare settings across the NHS.
As a crucial part of the development process, we are exploring and incorporating the views, preferences and experiences of patients, carers, and members of the public through a range of engagement events.
Alongside this, we are working with healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies to understand the challenges of implementing the rapid-learning approach in the clinic and widely in the NHS. Patients can allow us to include their anonymised data in RAPID-RT even if they have opted out via the National Data Opt-out.
Our work packages
The RAPID-RT project is made up of seven strands of research called work packages (WPs).
Information for participants
Information about taking part in RAPID-RT is available for:
- patients whose anonymised data will be included in RAPID-RT;
- patients who have agreed to be interviewed about their experience of RAPID-RT;
- participants completing questionnaires looking at the use of patient-reported outcome measures.
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Email: rapid-rt@manchester.ac.uk
Patient and public involvement and engagement
Working with patients, carers, and other interested members of the public is central to RAPID-RT.
We are running a programme of involvement and engagement events to shape the RAPID-RT programme in collaboration with Vocal, which connects people with health research.
Two patient co-applicants lead our patient and public engagement alongside Vocal, and we also have a Patient Advisory Group that advises on all aspects of the programme.
Find out more about our upcoming People’s Forum on Radiotherapy event.
Learn more about our past events.
Who we are
Research team
Corinne Faivre-Finn (Lead Researcher)
Professor in Thoracic Radiation Oncology (The University of Manchester) and Honorary Consultant Oncologist (The Christie NHS Foundation Trust)
Corinne is one of RAPID-RT’s two lead researchers and is a world-expert lung cancer clinician at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Corinne is the main link between the clinical and research teams, striving to improve the lives of patients with lung cancer.
Gareth Price (Lead Researcher)
Senior Lecturer in Cancer Digital Sciences and Machine Learning (The University of Manchester)
Gareth is one of RAPID-RT’s two lead researchers. He is interested in how the real-world data that is collected as part of patients’ normal treatment can be used to make research more inclusive and to improve cancer care.
His research interests include the development and application of innovative ways to collect, share and analyse patient data to provide clinical insight into how cancer treatments are affecting patient outcomes when more conventional clinical trials are not practical.
Rebecca Holley
RAPID-RT Programme Manager (The University of Manchester)
Becki has oversight of the entire RAPID-RT programme, working together with all members of the RAPID-RT team to ensure successful delivery of the milestones of the programme. She is the main point of contact for all enquiries relating to any aspects of the programme.
Patient co-applicants
Leila Hamrang
Since receiving a bone marrow transplant in 2005, Leila has dedicated a large proportion of her time to educating and sharing her experiences of cancer with other and working to improve cancer treatments for all.
In this programme, she provides a patient voice to researchers as part of the patient advisory panel, leads patients and the public in focus groups and Citizens’ Jury discussions, and reviews programme documents and publications.
Brian Turner
Brian is a survivor of prostate cancer following treatment with radiotherapy. As a patient co-applicant and alongside the PPI lead he contributes to all PPIE activities, influencing the content of focus groups and Citizens’ Juries to maximise public and patient influence over the research programme.
He is keen to raise awareness of cancer and radiotherapy and use his experiences and knowledge to support other cancer patients to understand their disease and treatment options.
Findings and outputs
We will make our findings available in different formats for researchers, clinicians, participants and the public.
These will include papers that have been published in scientific journals, as well as blog posts and videos made by the study team.
Contact Us
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
