​What is Radiation Cancer Biology?

Radiation cancer biology focuses on the role of radiation in inducing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. This field of study is vast. Specific research areas include the assessment of cancer risks to space flight crews from exposure to galactic cosmic radiation, exploring the effects of low dose radiation exposures, DNA repair, telomere biology, mutagenesis, bystander effects, and tumor microenvironment.

What is Radiation Oncology?

Radiation oncology is the medical specialty and study of the use of radiation to treat cancer. 

Graduate Studies in Radiation Cancer Biology and Oncology

Graduate students wishing to specialize in cancer research can do so within the Radiological Health Sciences (RHS) graduate degree program directed by faculty in the Radiation Cancer Biology and Oncology section of the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, or within the multi-departmental Cell and Molecular Biology Program (CMB). The graduate curricula that emphasize cancer research within the RHS and CMB graduate degree programs share many of the same faculty and courses.  

The Radiation Cancer Biology and Oncology section in ERHS provides research and educational opportunities leading to an MS or PhD in Radiological Health Sciences and focuses on the role of radiation in inducing, diagnosing, and treating cancer.

Clinically related research is conducted at the Robert H. and Mary G. Flint Animal Cancer Center located at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The CSU Animal Cancer Center is a model in veterinary medicine for conducting cutting edge research and treatment of pet animals with naturally-occurring tumors to advance diagnosis and treatment of cancer in animals and humans. Get more information about radiation therapy for the treatment of pet animals with tumors.

Financial support through graduate research assistantships is available to highly qualified PhD students. MS students are generally self-funded.

Residency Program

The radiation oncology program at Colorado State University trains veterinarians to become radiation oncologists. This three-year program includes a master's degree in Radiological Health Sciences. The training program includes didactic training in Radiation Biology, Radiation Physics, Cancer Biology, and radiographic image interpretation, plus clinical training in radiation oncology and treatment planning.

Department Admission Requirements

Prior to applying to either the MS of PhD programs, students are strongly encouraged to contact a faculty member in Radiation Cancer Biology and Oncology to identify shared research interests and to determine the availability of financial support.