Todd Aguilera

Todd Aguilera, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician-scientist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in molecular engineering, tumor microenvironment research, and immunotherapy combinations for cancer treatment. His work focuses on improving radiation therapy outcomes through engineering approaches targeting immune responses, particularly in pancreatic cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies.

Dr. Aguilera completed the Medical Scientist Training Program at UC San Diego (2011), earning his Ph.D. under Nobel laureate Roger Tsien. He trained at Stanford in Radiation Oncology, studying tumor immunology and microenvironmental factors. His lab investigates immune evasion mechanisms and develops novel strategies to enhance immunotherapy and radiation synergy.

His research spans translational and clinical studies, including trials evaluating dismutase mimetics and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in pancreatic cancer. Key areas include oligometastatic disease management, radiomics for treatment planning, and targeted therapies against tumor intrinsic factors like AXL/WRNIP1.

Dr. Aguilera collaborates across disciplines to address disparities in cancer care and improve patient outcomes. His lab actively seeks to bridge preclinical insights with clinical applications through innovative imaging and biomarker strategies.