Dr Alexandra Gilbert

Profile

Alex is an Honorary consultant and CRUK Senior Clinical Trial fellow in Clinical (Radiation) Oncology, Leeds Cancer Centre, UK. Since joining the research and clinical teams in Leeds in 2010, she has followed a seamless National Institute for Health Research funded clinical academic pathway. Her research expertise is in the use of patient reported outcomes (PROs) in radiation toxicity measurement both in clinical trials and routine practice. She has particular interests in the use of PROs to develop predictive biomarkers of radiotherapy late effects and PRO methodology in clinical trials. As a CRUK senior clinical trial fellow, she is working on a number of interventional radiotherapy trials including complex multi-centre platform RCTs evaluating novel agents and techniques, providing expertise in toxicity and PRO measurement. She is also a member of the NCRI anorectal cancer subgroup and deputy chair of the Methodology workstream as well as an active member of the EORTC Quality of Life group. She has collaborated both nationally and internationally with experts in health services research, PROs, technical radiotherapy and clinical trials.

Background

Alex joined the Leeds Cancer Centre, Patient Centered Research group and Radiotherapy research group in 2010 as a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellow; combining her training in clinical oncology with research. During this time she prepared a successful application for funding to NIHR for a PhD into the use of PROs in monitoring side effects following pelvic radiotherapy, which she completed in 2016. After completing her training as an NIHR-funded academic clinical lecturer she was then succesful in gaining funding as a CRUK Senior clinical trials fellow to continue her research as a consultant. She is currenlty working on an Academy of Medical Sciences funded project evaluating toxicity related to pelvic radiotherapy and assessing multiple methods for contouring organs at risk alongside her clinical trials work.  

Alex completed a BSc in Psychology at University College, London prior to studying medicine at Royal Free and University College Medical School. Previous research as a clinical fellow funded by the National Leadership Council considered the experiences of junior doctors working in the NHS. This was a collaborative medical education and leadership development project working with South Central Strategic Health Authority and Wessex Deanery.

Research interests

Alex’s research interests include:

• Radiotherapy clinical trials
• Measurement of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and quality of life of radiotherapy patients in clinical trials and routine practice
• Using patient-reported outcomes to predict radiotherapy toxicity
• Predicting radiotherapy-related toxicity using radiotherapy dose data (normal tissue complication probability modelling)

You can find out more about her research here. 

Qualifications

• FRCR
• PhD
• MRCP
• MBBS
• BSc Psychology

Professional memberships

• FRCR
• GMC
• BMA
• EORTC-QLG
• NCRI

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
• The Radiotherapy Research Group