Jacob Young

Jacob Young, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine and a Principal Investigator in the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. His clinical practice focuses on neurosurgical management of adult brain tumors including gliomas, metastatic tumors, and meningiomas, utilizing advanced brain mapping techniques to preserve critical motor, language, and sensory functions during resection.

Dr. Young's educational background includes a BS in Neuroscience from Duke University (2012), an MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2017), and a neurosurgery residency at UCSF (2017-2024). His research program integrates laboratory investigations with clinical trials to address fundamental challenges in brain tumor treatment.

His primary research interests center on understanding glioblastoma immune microenvironment dynamics and developing innovative therapeutic strategies. Key focus areas include:

• First-in-human clinical trials of novel immunotherapies
• Focused ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier disruption to enhance drug delivery
• Longitudinal molecular profiling of tumor evolution during treatment
• AI-driven tools for patient care navigation and clinical trial assessment
• Prospective outcomes research through the RANO resect group and NeuroPoint Alliance

His work bridges fundamental tumor biology with translational applications to overcome treatment resistance.

Analysis of Dr. Young's 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on surgical innovation, tumor immunology, and molecular characterization. Key trends include: development of prognostic classification systems for resection extent, investigation of glioma-neuronal circuit interactions driving immunosuppression, and optimization of drug delivery strategies. His collaborative work within the RANO consortium establishes evidence-based surgical guidelines while his lab's focus on microenvironmental factors informs next-generation immunotherapies.

Dr. Young has received significant recognition including:

• Chan-Zuckerberg Physician Scientist Fellowship (2021-2022)
• ASCO Young Investigator Award (2022-2023)
• Andrew J. Lockhart Focused Ultrasound Fellowship (2023)
• Multiple Harold Rosegay Teaching Awards from UCSF
• Howard Naffziger Award for Clinical Excellence

His research is supported by NIH, NCI, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, and AANS grants.

As lab director, Dr. Young mentors a diverse team including PhD candidates like Edward Valenzuela (DSCB program) and specialists in immunology and neuro-oncology. His lab participates in the RANO resect group, ENCRAM research program, and NeuroPoint Alliance to advance clinical protocols. Current projects include developing intraoperative focused ultrasound prototypes, single-cell analysis of tumor evolution, and AI tools for patient navigation through care pathways. Future work focuses on translating microenvironment discoveries into combination therapies targeting treatment resistance mechanisms.