Harsha Chugh Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Harsha Chugh

I am a registered dentist and early-career researcher specialising in population oral health, cancer survivorship, and digital health. I am currently undertaking a mixed-methods PhD at the University of Sydney, focused on the development and evaluation of RadiOH, a co-designed mobile health intervention to improve oral health outcomes for head and neck cancer survivors following radiotherapy. My research integrates behavioural science, consumer engagement, implementation science, and digital health to address unmet supportive care needs and improve long-term survivorship and quality-of-life outcomes. I have established a strong record of research productivity, with first-author publications in Community Dental Health (2025) and co-authored publications in the Journal of Dentistry (2025). My research has been supported through a competitive University of Sydney Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme. I was awarded the $50,000 Research Education Network Grant from Western Sydney Local Health District and was selected to participate in the highly competitive 2026 Australia and Asia-Pacific Clinical Oncology Research Development (ACORD) Workshop. This intensive program provides advanced training in clinical trial design, methodology, implementation, protocol development, and multidisciplinary collaboration under the mentorship of leading oncology researchers. Alongside my research, I held the inaugural Dentistry Practitioner (Lecturer) position at the University of Sydney, teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate dental programs. My responsibilities included clinical supervision, curriculum delivery, assessment design, and student evaluation, supported by formal training in clinical education and higher education pedagogy. I continue to practise clinically across public and private sectors, including within South Western Sydney Local Health District, to provide care for medically complex patients, including people affected by cancer and those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. This ongoing clinical practice informs the translational relevance and real-world applicability of my research. I graduated from the University of Adelaide with First Class Honours and was elected Class Valedictorian. I am committed to advancing equitable, consumer-informed oral health research that improves survivorship outcomes and supports translation into clinical practice through multidisciplinary collaboration, implementation, and leadership.