CRUK RadNet Glasgow Centre

Linda Galbraith, Patient Advocate 

As our Patient and Public Involvement group lead, Linda Galbraith brings both lived experience and exceptional leadership to one of the most urgent challenges in cancer research: diagnosing cancer earlier, faster, and more accurately. In this position, Linda leads a group of ‘radiotherapy experienced’ patients, family members, and carers from the local community in contributing to our research programme, as well as providing guidance on the relevance of work proposed to patients and the public. Members of the PPI group are also supported to become Co-Investigators on grant applications, join other research initiatives (cancer and non-cancer), and be PPI representatives on national and international boards and advisory committees. Alongside this, Linda plays a key role as part of the RadNet Glasgow+ Steering Committee, ensuring the patient voice is represented across our activities.

Beyond RadNet Glasgow+, Linda now serves as the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Chair (PPIE) for the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED). After waiting three years for her own cancer diagnosis, causing further damage and reduced quality of life, Linda is determined to improve diagnostic pathways for others. She has been a driving force behind the expansion of the PPIE role in ACED, setting up five new workstreams through which ACED can improve outcomes for cancer patients.
 
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate Linda’s remarkable advocacy, her drive for meaningful change, and her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer. Her work ensures that patient voices are not only heard but have the power to shape the future of cancer research.
 

Dr Claire Paterson, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor

Dr Claire Paterson acts as co-lead for our highly successful Head and Neck cancer focus group (GlaHNC) as well as co-lead for our Health Inequalities theme. As a Consultant Clinical Oncologist for the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor for the University of Glasgow, Dr Paterson is a driving force for innovation, equity and progress.
 
Her research portfolio reflects both scientific ambition and a deep commitment to addressing unmet clinical needs. Dr Paterson holds the prestigious NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Senior Fellowship. In addition, her work spans several funded projects including;
  • The MeRInO study: study of diffusion weighted MRI as a predictive biomarker of response during radiotherapy for high and intermediate risk squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx:
  • BARitOne study: Biologically Adaptive Radiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Cancer
Dr Paterson’s leadership extends beyond the clinic. She serves as the Oncology Representative for the British Association of Head & Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) and as an associate section editor for the high impact International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. She has also contributed to national and international guidelines on the management of head and neck cancer.
 
Her commitment to improving patient information is equally notable: as a Senior Medical Editor for Macmillan Cancer Support, she helps ensure that people affected by head and neck cancers have access to clear, accurate, and compassionate guidance.
 
Across her career, Dr Paterson has contributed to numerous multi‑centre studies as a local Principal Investigator or as Chief Investigator, published widely in peer‑reviewed journals, and championed research that addresses health inequalities—ensuring that advances in cancer care benefit all communities.
 
We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate Dr Claire Paterson for her dedication to improving the lives of patients with head and neck cancer. Her work exemplifies the impact of women in oncology and the transformative power of research driven by compassion and curiosity.
 

Miss Catriona Douglas, Clinical and Academic Head, Neck and Thyroid Surgeon and Honorary Professor 

Miss Catriona Douglas is a valuable member of the RadNet Glasgow+ team, co-leading our thriving Head and Neck cancer focus group, as well as our Health Inequalities scientific theme. Her research is working to shape research priorities that address some of the most pressing challenges in cancer care, championing the principle that scientific progress must benefit all patients, regardless of background or circumstances. As Clinical and Academic Head, Neck and Thyroid Surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, she is a leading figure in surgical innovation. She is also an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow and holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Strathclyde, reflecting the breadth of her influence across Scotland's clinical and academic landscape.

Miss Douglas' academic and clinical journey spans internationally recognised centres of cancer excellence. She undertook her doctorate in 'Tumour Markers that Predict Treatment Response in Head and Neck Cancer”, at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, a fellow RadNet Centre, and was awarded her degree from the University of Manchester. After completing undergraduate and higher surgical training in the West of Scotland, she undertook an international fellowship in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at the University of Toronto and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre – one of the world's foremost cancer institutions.

Her research portfolio is both diverse and impactful. She holds an NHS Scotland Senior Research Fellowship and an MRC NIHR CARP award, and has secured competitive funding for projects including:

  • Understanding the metagenomic profile of the tonsil and oral flora in tonsillitis patients (Tenovus Scotland, 2024–2026)
  • HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer and radioresistance: predicting radiotherapy failure (Cancer Research UK, 2022)

Miss Douglas co-chairs the GlaHNC multi-disciplinary research group, supervising several junior doctors and nurturing the next generation of clinician-scientists. She is also the Academic Training Lead for ENT residents in the West of Scotland, ensuring trainees receive the support and mentorship needed to reach their academic potential. Miss Douglas is the course co-director for the University of Glasgow Head and Neck Surgery intercalated degree program, supporting medical students as they develop and learn about diseases of the head and neck.

Her influence extends nationally through her role on the Surgical Specialty Board for ENT at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where she advocates for the professional interests of ENT specialists and she is the West of Scotland council member for ENT UK. She also contributes to the scientific community as a review editor for Frontiers in Head and Neck Cancer, Frontiers in Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and the Journal of Laryngology and Otology.

With over 70 peer-reviewed publications and two book chapters, Miss Douglas' academic output reflects both depth and dedication. In June 2025, she was awarded the Hunter-Doig Medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh—an honour celebrating the excellence and contribution of women in surgery.

Out with medicine she enjoys spending time with her three children and husband.

On International Women's Day, we would like to celebrate Miss Catriona Douglas for her fantastic professional success, and for the incredibly positive impact her career continues to have on cancer research.

Roberta Garau, CRUK PhD Research Fellow 

Dr Roberta Garau graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2018 with degrees in Medicine and Biomedical Science. Since graduating, she has worked as a doctor and developed an interest in general surgery and gastrointestinal diseases. She began her training as a general surgeon in 2020 but has since taken four years out of clinical training to pursue a CRUK-funded PhD exploring the role of epigenetic inhibition in treatment resistance in colorectal cancer.

As a medical student, Dr Garau managed to secure MRC funding to gain experience in a mycology laboratory at the University of São Paulo, and later received funding from the University of Aberdeen to complete an elective in a haematology laboratory at New York University. Both experiences were instrumental in consolidating her interest in scientific research and ultimately led to her decision to pursue a PhD.

During her PhD, Dr Garau developed a particular interest in rectal cancer, specifically investigating the role of epigenetic mechanisms in improving response to radiotherapy in combination with targeted therapies such as PD-1 inhibitors. For this reason, she applied for the RadNet Glasgow Pump Priming Award to investigate the role of epigenetic inhibition via EZH2 in tumour response to radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibition in a mouse model of rectal cancer.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Garau on her all of her wonderful success so far. RadNet Glasgow+ is proud to have been able to support Dr Garau's research with our Pump Priming Award, and we wish her well in the pursuit of her project. 

Dr Aileen Duffton, Lead Radiographer and Honorary Senior Lecturer

As Lead Radiographer for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Dr Aileen Duffton is at the forefront of radiotherapy innovation, championing the integration of advanced technologies to improve cancer treatment and patient outcomes. Within the Radiotherapy Network, she plays a pivotal role in co-leading our Hepatocellular cancer focus group and Translating Novel RT Strategies into clinical Trials scientific theme, helping to shape the future of radiotherapy research and practice across Scotland.
 
Dr Duffton completed her MSc in Advanced Practice in Radiotherapy and Oncology at Sheffield Hallam University in 2013. In 2024, Dr Duffton was awarded a PhD entitled 'Optimisation of Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer' from the University of Glagsow. Her research focuses on optimising stereotactic radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. These research interests have grown into a substantial research portfolio, where she leads and contributes to the design, conduct, and analysis of local, national, and international clinical studies. She is also an active member of ESTRO and has led work that increases the profile of advanced practice and research for RTTs.
 
Dr Duffton’s academic impact extends beyond her research. She is Editor‑in‑Chief at tipsRO, shaping discourse in radiotherapy practice and education, and she contributes to the next generation of cancer scientists as an Honorary Lecturer and Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow.
 
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate Dr Aileen Duffton for her leadership, her vision, and her dedication to transforming radiotherapy through innovation.

First published: 8 March 2026

<< News and Events