RRP Initiatives & Programs

The Radiation Research Program (RRP) has a strong commitment to promoting the highest standards in radiotherapy delivery and evaluation. It supports research in photon, proton and heavy ion radiation therapy and radiopharmaceutical cancer therapy as well as biological effects of radiation. RRP is committed to promoting equal access to healthcare for all under-served socioeconomic populations.

RRP serves as the NCI’s liaison and advisor on the mitigation of radiation-induced normal tissue injury in programs addressing radiological/nuclear terrorism in the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). In addition to these activities, RRP sponsors workshops to promote research topics of high priority to the NCI mission. 

RRP has launched a multi-institutional network called Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) to harness new biological knowledge to optimize radiation therapy in combination with systemic drugs, immunotherapy, and other agents.

Past efforts included the Cancer Disparities Research Partnership, which was initiated in 2002. The partnership tested novel approaches to reduce the negative consequences associated with uneven access to cancer screening and care and through the International Cancer Expert Corps (iceccancer.org), which provides mentoring to physicians in under-developed parts of the world as well as geographically underserved domestic populations.