LATEST NEWS: 26 August 2025

The TROG Scientific Committee (TSC) has welcomed two new members, from the fields of radiation therapy and radiation oncology, supporting our work conducting high-quality, practice-changing clinical trials.

The TSC, comprised of professionals from wide-ranging fields, plays a vital role in facilitating our work through discussion and endorsement of clinical trial concepts and proposals submitted by TROG members, oversight of active trials and ensuring publication of trial results.

Meet the new TSC members:

Dr Dorothy Chilambe Lombe, TSC Discipline Representative –  Radiation Oncology (one of three RO representatives on the Committee)

Dorothy is a consultant radiation oncologist at Palmerston North Hospital in New Zealand and serves as Associate Dean Palmerston North for the University of Otago, Wellington. She actively contributes to health systems, translational and clinical research. Her work integrates oncology, education, and translational science to improve patient care and evidence-based practice. She answered the following questions:

What drives your interest or your passion for cancer research?

My passion and interest for research is grounded in the intention to care and find solutions for challenges. Even if I can’t change an outcome imminently, I hope to make a cancer patient’s journey more bearable. I also believe in using my talent and knowledge to bridge solutions, as often the answers are in front of us, but the appropriate bridges are absent.

What attracted you to join the TSC?

I was attracted by the commitment to a rigorous yet collaborative environment in radiation therapy research. It’s a great opportunity to be able to contribute to methodologically sound and impactful research.

Dr Katrina Woodford, PhD – Discipline Representative – Radiation Therapy

Dr Katrina Woodford is the Lead Radiation Therapist Clinician Scientist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, where she oversees the radiation therapy research portfolio across their five campuses. Prior to this she led the Stereotactic Team at The Alfred Hospital where she worked for 15 years. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Monash University, where she was awarded her PhD in 2022, with a thesis exploring the feasibility of SABR for locally-advanced NSCLC, which involved co-leading a phase 1 clinical trial. She answered the following questions:

What drives your interest or your passion for cancer research?

My passion for cancer research is driven by a genuine excitement to advance the body of knowledge and make a tangible difference to the lives of our patients, while also wanting to grow the involvement and strengthen the research capacity of radiation therapists to drive evidence-based, patient-centred change.

What attracted you to join the TSC?

I was inspired by the opportunity to contribute to high-quality, collaborative radiation oncology research on a national and international level and to help shape the scientific direction of the field. I’m honoured to be able to represent the radiation therapy discipline on the committee.

Thank you to long-serving Committee members

We want to say a heartfelt thank you to three long-serving members of TROG Committees who have recently completed their terms, having made invaluable contributions over many years.

Thank you to A/Prof Fiona Hegi-Johnson (pictured right) has stepped down as Chair of the Lung Working Party, having generously contributed to the group for more than a decade.

A/Prof Hegi-Johnson (pictured above left), a radiation oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, was inaugural chair of the Lung Subspeciality Group which later became the Lung Working Party. She is also a co-chair of the TROG 17.02 OUTRUN trial and previously served as a valued member of the TROG Board, including making significant contributions to the FARM Committee.

Congratulations to previous Deputy Chair of the Lung Working Party, Dr Yu Yang Soon, who is stepping into the role of Chair.

Prof Peter Greer (pictured below right) is stepping down from the New Techniques and Technologies Committee (NTTC), having served on the Committee since it was established in 2013.

Prof Greer has had a long and distinguished career in medical physics and research and has been conducting research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Calvary Mater Newcastle since 2007. He led the Medical Physics Research Group for many years and now serves as Chief Medical Physicist of the department.

Prof Greer has an extensive network of collaborations including his work with TROG, where he has made significant contributions, particularly in radiation therapy quality assurance. He served as NTTC Chair from 2015 to 2022 and continued as a member of the committee until 2025, providing guidance and expertise across numerous initiatives.

Notable highlights of Prof Greer’s work with us include:

• VESPA remote auditing service, a key tool for trial credentialing.
• SEAFARER collaboration, currently supported by Cancer Australia funding.
• Leadership in the QA program and MRI substudy for TROG 18.01 NINJA.
• Contributions to multiple studies through expert advice and guidance.
• Active involvement in the MR in RT special interest group and various working groups, developing guidelines and resources to implement new and complex technologies in TROG clinical trials.

We also thank A/Prof James Lynam (pictured right) recently completed his term as TROG Scientific Committee – Medical Oncology Discipline Representative.

A/Prof Lynam, Director of Medical Oncology at the Calvary Mater, was appointed to the TSC in 2019, and has served for six years, providing a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the Committee throughout that time.

We express our gratitude and appreciation to these three TROG members for generously providing their time, expertise and guidance through our Committees.

• Find out more about TROG Committees