Prof Hans Peter Rodemann speaks about his work investigating how inhibition of the EGFR pathway induces resistance to radiotherapy in tumour cells. This research has shown that this signalling pathway induces resistance by activating DNA repair mechanisms. The EGFR receptors are themselves activated by ionising radiation, although the precise mechanisms of this is not yet fully understood. Prof Rodemann explains what is known of the mechanism, what further research he is planning and highlights some of the other key research from the field of radiobiology.