PhD candidate 'Early health technology assessment of oncologic innovations in radionuclide therapy'

Are you keen on contributing to the development of innovative oncologic radionuclide therapies in a sustainable and affordable way? We have an excellent opportunity for you!

Radionuclide therapies have the potential to become a major pillar in future cancer care. Radionuclide therapy consists of a molecule that targets cancer cells, and is coupled to a radioisotope emitting tissue-damaging radiation. When administered into a patient, the therapy binds cells in or near the tumours and kills them through radioactivity.

While their safety and anti-tumor efficacy profiles are very promising, radionuclide therapies can also be very expensive, and may increase the burden on care staff. It is therefore important that innovations in radionuclide therapy are assessed from an early stage of development. Using the approach of early Health Technology Assessment (early HTA), insights can be provided in if and how innovations can provide value for money, and contribute to the sustainability of the healthcare system. In addition, early HTA can inform the design of future studies.

You will be working at the Radboudumc science department IQ Health and the department of Medical Imaging.

We are seeking a motivated PhD student to join an interdisciplinary project aimed at:

• Assessing the potential added value of innovations in radionuclide therapy in prostate and other types of cancer.
• Assessing the role of early HTA in the innovation process for radionuclide therapies.
• Adapting methodology of early HTA for the specific use in radionuclide therapy.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Develop and apply methods for assessing the potential value of specific innovations in radionuclide therapy.
• Engage with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders through interviews and focus groups.
• Contribute to the development of a framework for incorporating early HTA in the innovation process of radionuclide therapy.
• Disseminate research findings through reports, publications, and presentations.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, curious, highly motivated and open colleague researcher with:

• An MSc in the field of biomedical sciences, health sciences, medicine, innovation science or similar.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for stakeholder engagement, including conducting interviews and focus group discussions.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Command of the Dutch language is not strictly required, however it is strongly appreciated given the regular interactions with many different Dutch stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary collaborative team. We hold team science in high regard.
• A track-record and interest in health technology assessment (HTA) and health economic modeling.
• Some familiarity with radionuclide therapy is preferred, but being open to engage in this field is required.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• The salary depends on eduation. Scale 10 will be offered to MSc medical graduates; you will start at scale 10, step 0(€ 3.493 full-time). Those holding degrees in other disciplines will be offered scale 10A: upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.017 full-time). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• From 1 July 2025 an increase in salary with 3%.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week.

You will be working at the Radboudumc science department IQ Health and the department of Medical Imaging. The project team is highly interdisciplinary, including colleagues from (pre)clinical research and healthcare professionals. IQ Health originated from the former departments of Health Evidence and IQ healthcare.

IQ Health is a state-of-the-art research and teaching centre, where methods of research are themselves the subject of study and development. Through education and consultation (services), we help Radboudumc as well as external organisations in applying the right methods of research.

Preventing illness, improving care! In this way we contribute to the mission of the Radboudumc; To have a significant impact on health and healthcare.

The IQ Health department employs about 200 colleagues. The heart of the IQ Health department consists of six Research & Education (R&E) groups. These groups work together internally and externally (nationally and internationally) on topical themes and are connected to the two core tasks of education and research. In addition, the groups provide external consultation.

At IQ Health you will join the Health Systems & Health Technology Assessment (HeSHTA) group, which is internationally recognized for research, training and education on developing and applying health systems and HTA methodology and processes, including stakeholder deliberation and early HTA. The group includes a great mix of people from backgrounds, nationalities and career phases. While you are responsible for your own project, there are ample opportunities to participate in other research or teaching activities.

Your work will be in very close collaboration with the nuclear medicine section of the department of Medical Imaging. This section consists of a large group of preclinical, translational and clinical researchers in close collaboration to an innovative clinical team providing day-to-day diagnostic support and care for cancer patients. Research at the Radboudumc Medical Imaging department rates #3 worldwide, only preceded by Harvard and Stanford. Our collaborators both have experience in development and clinical practice of radionuclide therapy and application of HTA in research.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then email to
Janneke Grutters, Professor of early Health Technology Assessment. Use the Apply button to submit your application.