Opportunities for Global Collaboration in Radiation Oncology: The Radiation Planning Assistant as a Case Study

Research in radiation oncology is vital for advancing cancer treatment and for improving access to radiation therapy across the world. The development and validation of the Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA) required extensive collaboration across institutions. This started with extensive discussions on clinical workflows, treatment approaches, and potential risks. Later, research collaborations ensured that the tool's algorithms were tested in a variety of clinical scenarios, from simple treatment plans to complex cases. Multi-institutional studies contributed to the validation of RPA-generated plans against those created by experienced dosimetrists. These collaborations not only improved the RPA's functionality but also created opportunities for publications and grant funding, benefiting all parties involved. In this chapter, we use the RPA as a case study to describe various aspects of global collaborations.