Tatiana S. Kain

Tatiana S. Kain is a Professor and Chief of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in the Department of Radiological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She specializes in Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, with clinical expertise in diagnostic imaging and molecular imaging techniques across multiple UCI Health facilities including the UCI Medical Center, Gottschalk Medical Plaza, and the UCI Health Pacific Breast Care Center.

Dr. Kain received her MD from Ben-Gurion School of Medicine in Beer-Sheva, Israel in 1987. She completed her residency in Pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY in 1989, followed by specialized residencies in Nuclear Medicine (1990) and Diagnostic Radiology (1993) at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT. This comprehensive training established her expertise at the intersection of pathology, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic radiology.

Dr. Kain's research spans multiple disciplines with particular focus on advanced imaging techniques for cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. She has pioneered research using novel PET imaging tracers to assess treatment response in breast cancer patients receiving therapies like bevacizumab. Her work bridges clinical practice with cutting-edge imaging technology development, with recent expansion into critical care medicine, microbiome research, and food safety. Her collaborative approach is evident across multiple disciplines, with publications spanning oncology, infectious disease, critical care, and even materials science.

Analysis of Dr. Kain's publication history reveals a diverse research portfolio with increasing focus on microbiome research in critical illness and biomarker validation for infectious disease outcomes in recent years (2022-2024). Earlier work (2014-2020) demonstrates significant contributions to cancer imaging, particularly breast cancer response monitoring using novel PET tracers, as well as research on respiratory infections and pandemic preparedness. Her interdisciplinary approach reflects her ability to connect clinical medicine with basic science research across multiple fields.

• Physicians of Excellence, Orange County Medical Association — 2017, 2019-2023
• American College of Radiology Fellow (FACR), 2016
• Orange County Medical Association "Physician of Excellence Award", 2015-2019

As Chief of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Dr. Kain leads a multidisciplinary team focused on advancing imaging techniques for cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Her research has attracted significant grant funding across oncology, infectious disease, and critical care domains. While specific grant details aren't provided in available information, her extensive publication record spanning multiple disciplines suggests successful acquisition of NIH, industry, and foundation funding. Dr. Kain has mentored numerous trainees through her academic and clinical roles, contributing to the development of the next generation of radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists.

Dr. Kain directs the Nuclear Medicine division within the Department of Radiological Sciences at UCI Medical Center, operating state-of-the-art PET/CT and SPECT imaging facilities. Under her leadership, the division has developed expertise in advanced imaging applications for cancer, particularly in breast cancer management as evidenced by her publication record on novel imaging tracers and treatment response monitoring. The division supports both clinical service and research initiatives, maintaining strong connections with oncology, infectious disease, and critical care departments across the medical center.