Hao Gao

Hao Gao is an Associate Professor and Director of Physics Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Kansas. He is board certified in Therapeutic Physics by the American Board of Radiology and provides clinical services at the KUCC Radiation Oncology Pavilion, focusing on advancing imaging and radiation therapy modalities for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

• Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics, University of California, Irvine
• M.S. in Medical Physics, University of California, Irvine
• B.S. in Physics, University of Science & Technology of China

Dr. Gao’s research specializes in developing innovative optimization methods for hybrid proton-photon radiotherapy and FLASH proton therapy. His work aims to enhance treatment planning systems and clinical deliverability through computational and mathematical approaches, integrating biomedical engineering principles to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Dr. Gao has secured significant funding, including an NIH R37 MERIT grant, a KUCC physicist-scientist recruiting grant, and industry collaborations. Prior to his current role, he held academic appointments at Emory University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, contributing to interdisciplinary research across mathematics, radiology, and biomedical engineering.

He is actively involved in clinical applications of therapeutic physics, operating from the Richard and Annette Bloch Radiation Oncology Pavilion. His career spans academic and clinical domains, with a focus on translating computational advancements into practical cancer treatment solutions.