Dr. Peter van Luijk is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Groningen. His research focuses on Radiobiology , Mathematical & Computational Biology , and Oncology , with a particular emphasis on radiation effects in tissues and improving treatment outcomes through advanced modeling and proton therapy optimization. Expertise includes: Radiation-induced tissue damage mechanisms, predictive modeling of normal tissue complications, and translational research bridging physics and clinical oncology. Collaborates in the ESTRO DREAM Team , a multidisciplinary initiative advancing radiotherapy response prediction. Received a €1.5M grant from KWF for research into mitigating radiation side effects. His work integrates experimental, computational, and clinical approaches to address challenges in thoracic and head/neck radiation therapies, emphasizing patient-specific risk assessment and novel therapeutic strategies.
Theresa M. Busch, Ph.D., serves as Research Professor and Associate Director of Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Her work bridges translational cancer research and clinical applications, focusing on optimizing radiation-based therapies through mechanistic understanding of tumor microenvironment dynamics. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Biophysics from the University of Scranton (1993) Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University at Buffalo, Roswell Park Cancer Institute Division (1998) Dr. Busch's research investigates photodynamic therapy (PDT) and FLASH radiotherapy mechanisms, with emphasis on vascular function, tissue oxygenation, and immune dynamics. Her lab examines how heterogeneities in oxygen, photosensitizer distribution, and light fluence impact treatment efficacy, utilizing murine models, large animals, and human clinical trials to translate findings into improved therapeutic strategies. Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant trends in FLASH proton therapy for normal tissue sparing, PDT-immunotherapy combinations for mesothelioma, and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery . These works consistently address biophysical limitations in cancer treatment while advancing dosimetry techniques and microenvironmental modulation. Dr. Busch mentors graduate students and research specialists including Master's candidate Lyna Dinh. Her collaborative projects span: Photodynamic therapy optimization for solid malignancies FLASH radiotherapy mechanisms for reducing chronic toxicity Immune checkpoint blockade to counteract surgery-induced immunosuppression The Busch Lab, located at the Smilow Center for Translational Research, comprises Senior Research Investigator Anastasia Velalopoulou, Ph.D., and specialists Shirron Carter, Min Yuan, and Joann Miller. The team collaborates with the Clinical Research Unit and Radiation Biology division to advance translational studies in radiation oncology, with particular focus on prostate cancer, pleural mesothelioma, and head and neck cancers.
Kathleen M. Sakamoto is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Hematology & Oncology division at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she holds the Shelagh Galligan Endowed Professorship . She has held numerous leadership roles, including Division Chief at UCLA and Stanford, and currently serves on the NIDDK Council and Child Health Research Institute Executive Committee . Her research focuses on transcriptional regulation in leukemogenesis , particularly CREB signaling, and developing targeted therapies for pediatric cancers and bone marrow failure syndromes.
Chet Ford, Ph.D., serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Miami, where he integrates clinical medical physics practice with translational research in MRI-guided radiation therapy. Board-certified by the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Radiological Physics, his expertise bridges nuclear magnetic resonance physics, clinical oncology, and medical imaging innovation. His educational foundation includes: PhD in Physics, University of Connecticut (1988) MS in Physics, University of Connecticut (1983) BS in Physics, Virginia Commonwealth University (1981) MBA, Drexel University (2003) Postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania (1990) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2010) established his specialization in MRI physics and clinical radiation oncology. His research pioneers the application of quantitative MRI to model tumor physiology and predict radiation response, leveraging daily imaging from hybrid MRI/radiotherapy systems like ViewRay. Current projects focus on machine learning-driven radiomic analysis of prostate cancer and glioblastoma evolution during treatment, with emphasis on adaptive therapy optimization. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a cohesive trajectory in exploiting low-field MR-LINAC technology for real-time treatment adaptation. Key themes include radiomic feature stability assessment, deep learning segmentation for tumor tracking, and multi-parametric MRI analysis to decode treatment resistance mechanisms—primarily in prostate cancer and glioblastoma contexts. Award highlights include: NIH Shannon Award Association of University Radiologists Stauffer Award Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Award Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society recognition Dr. Ford mentors physics residents, a biomedical engineering graduate student, and postdoctoral researchers in MRI device development. His grant portfolio features an NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant as Principal Investigator and EPA funding for an MR-based water monitoring device, demonstrating cross-disciplinary innovation. Laboratory efforts center on building small-animal MRI platforms and establishing clinical data registries for ViewRay treatment optimization.
Dr. Chelsea C. Pinnix serves as Professor and Residency Program Director in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she joined the faculty in July 2012 after completing her combined MD/PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania and residency training at MD Anderson. Her clinical expertise focuses on radiation therapy for lymphoma patients within one of the world's leading cancer treatment institutions. Dr. Pinnix's educational journey includes: Combined MD/PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania Residency training in Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Her research program centers on optimizing radiation therapy for lymphoma patients, with primary emphasis on minimizing normal tissue toxicity to improve long-term outcomes—particularly critical for young patients—and developing innovative strategies for aggressive/refractory lymphoma cases. She actively investigates the mechanisms behind synergistic chemotherapy-radiation approaches and technical advancements to reduce treatment-related morbidity while enhancing therapeutic efficacy. As Residency Program Director, Dr. Pinnix oversees the comprehensive training of future radiation oncologists through MD Anderson's clinical education framework. While her research program contributes to advancing standard-of-care protocols, specific grant details remain unlisted in the provided materials.
Kylie Keijzer is a researcher actively contributing to oncology, hematology, and immunotherapy. Her work focuses on improving clinical outcomes through studies on CAR T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma, tumor volume analysis, and toxicity risk profiling in head and neck cancer patients. She has also investigated metabolic complications like severe hyperglycemia during hematological care. Research areas include: Development of Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) models for head and neck cancer Role of serum TARC as a biomarker in Hodgkin lymphoma relapse detection Metabolic active tumor volume control to enhance CAR T-cell therapy survival outcomes Prospective glucose monitoring studies in hematological patients Her collaborations span international institutions, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being (SDG 3) and global partnerships (SDG 17).
Leo van Grunsven is a Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) where he serves as head of the Liver Cell Biology research group, a position he has held since 2009. His research is situated within the Basic (bio)medical sciences faculty, specifically in the Translational Liver Cell Biology department. With over 239 research outputs and 60 active projects, his work has significantly contributed to the understanding of liver biology and disease mechanisms. Dr. van Grunsven obtained his PhD in life sciences from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France, 1996), following postdoctoral training at the NINDS/NIH (Bethesda, USA, '96-'98) and KU Leuven (Belgium, '98-'06). His laboratory specializes in studying molecular mechanisms driving liver homeostasis, fibrosis, and regeneration, with particular expertise in hepatic stellate cells and in vitro disease modeling. His research interests focus on understanding hepatic stellate cell biology and developing innovative in vitro models for chronic liver disease. His group was the first to identify autophagy, AGE- and Hippo-signaling as key mechanisms in hepatic stellate cell activation during liver fibrogenesis. They also established the first hepatocyte-injury dependent in vitro liver fibrosis model using organoid cultures of human hepatocytes and iPSC-derived hepatic stellate cells. Current research focuses on refining these models and investigating stress pathway regulation in liver cells during acute and chronic injury. Analysis of Dr. van Grunsven's recent publications reveals a strong focus on liver fibrosis mechanisms, with particular emphasis on hepatic stellate cell activation, liver organoid models, and the molecular pathways driving liver disease progression. His work bridges basic science with translational applications, developing novel in vitro models that better recapitulate human liver pathologies. Dr. van Grunsven actively supervises research, with 43 supervised works documented in his profile. He leads multiple significant research projects including B-LIVER 2.0 (Brussels Alliance for Liver Research & Valorization, 2025-2029), CATCH (CAR-T cell immunotherapy against chronic liver disease, 2024-2028), and 3D-CELLMAP (advanced imaging of cell interactions in tissues, 2024-2028). His laboratory, the Liver Cell Biology Laboratory, maintains active collaborations across multiple institutions and continues to advance the field of liver research through innovative approaches to modeling liver disease and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D., serves as the Bucky and Patti Harris Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School , where he leads a research program focused on nucleotide repeat expansion disorders. His laboratory investigates how unstable DNA repeats cause neurological diseases through RNA-mediated toxicity and aberrant translation mechanisms, with particular emphasis on RAN translation in conditions including Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), ataxia, and CANVAS. Dr. Todd's research explores how repetitive genomic elements—constituting over half of human DNA—influence normal gene function and disease pathogenesis. His lab employs molecular genetics, neurobiological tools, and long-read sequencing approaches to study how RNA repeats sequester proteins and initiate non-canonical translation of toxic proteins without AUG start codons. Recent work has expanded into defining the native roles of repetitive elements in mRNA transcription and translation, with implications for common disease genetics. Analysis of Todd's 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on mechanistic neurobiology of repeat expansion disorders , with recurring themes in RAN translation regulation, TDP-43 pathology, and advanced genomic detection methods. His work bridges fundamental molecular insights with clinical applications, evident in studies on biomarker development (e.g., skin FMRpolyG measurement) and diagnostic yield in ataxia clinics. As a physician-scientist, Todd emphasizes the bench-to-bedside research model, combining clinical neurology with molecular investigation. His lab actively recruits researchers through the University of Michigan's world-class institutional framework, supporting next-generation scientists through collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. The Todd Lab's mission explicitly includes developing therapeutics for repeat expansion disorders while fostering future scientific leaders.
Dr. Anis Ahmad is a Researcher in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Miami. He specializes in mechanisms of normal tissue toxicity induced by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with a focus on lipid metabolism's role in renal injury and cancer treatment resistance. His work employs murine models of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and renal cancer to identify therapeutic targets. Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Aligarh Muslim University (2011) Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Miami Dr. Ahmad's research bridges radiation biology, nephrology, and cancer therapeutics. His recent publications highlight advancements in radioprotection, lipid metabolism interventions for kidney disease, and probiotic-based cancer therapies. The field spans from fundamental physicochemical studies to translational applications in oncology. His accolades include: Asia's Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award (Eli Lilly) Kidney Cancer Research Program Concept Award (DOD) Stanley J. Glaser Foundation Biomedical Research Award Dr. D. S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship Multiple travel awards from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Dr. Ahmad actively mentors trainees, serves as a journal editor and reviewer, and has published over 50 peer-reviewed works. His laboratory at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center investigates novel pathways to improve cancer treatment outcomes and reduce long-term toxicity.
Christina Andersen is a Researcher at the Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark. Her work focuses on medical dosimetry, radiation therapy, and FLASH radiation effects, particularly in proton and electron therapy applications. Supervises PhD students in projects like 'Ensuring patient safety in medical device sterilization' Active in MR-linac dosimetry and radiation processing Her recent publications address: FLASH radiation's impact on murine skin toxicity Proton therapy's distal edge effects Advanced dosimetry techniques for MR-linac systems Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in radiation oncology and medical physics, contributing to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being .
Anna Embring is affiliated with the Department of Oncology-Pathology at Karolinska Institutet, working within Åsa Carlsson Tedgren's research group. She holds a Medical degree (2002) and a Doctoral degree (2023) from Karolinska Institutet. Her research focuses on radiation oncology, particularly pediatric tumor reirradiation, proton therapy, and optimizing clinical radiotherapy protocols. Key research areas include: Reirradiation safety and efficacy in CNS tumors Proton therapy dosimetry and side effect profiling National guideline development for pediatric radiotherapy Long-term outcomes of radiation therapy in children Recent work highlights include: Systematic evaluation of proton vs photon radiotherapy toxicity Development of Swedish pediatric CNS tumor reirradiation guidelines Analysis of cumulative dose effects in head and neck cancers Current grant-funded research includes the REMIT project (2024-2025) exploring reirradiation for diffuse midline glioma. She has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications since 2017, emphasizing translational research between dosimetric innovation and clinical practice.
Maurizio Prato is a Full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Trieste since 2000, previously holding roles as Associate Professor (1992–2000) and Assistant Professor at the University of Padova (1983–1992). His academic journey includes postdoctoral fellowships at Yale University and Texas Tech University, and visiting roles at institutions like the University of California Santa Barbara and the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. Education: Laurea degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Padova (1978–82), followed by research fellowships at Padova and international institutions. Professional milestones include ERC Advanced Grant (2008), membership in the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (2010), and honorary degrees from Xi’an Jiaotong University and Roma Tor Vergata. Research focuses on Organic Synthesis , Graphene Chemistry , Supramolecular Chemistry , and applications of Carbon Nanotubes and Fullerenes . Recent efforts emphasize functionalization of carbon materials for energy, catalysis, and biomedical applications. Notable contributions include pioneering work on carbon nanotube toxicity and electrocatalytic interfaces. Awards and Honors: 2014: Natta Gold Medal, EuCheMS Lecture Award 2013: Blaise Pascal Medal (European Academy of Sciences) 2010: Member of Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 2008: ERC Advanced Research Grant His research group, the Carbon Nanotechnology Group , integrates organic chemistry, materials science, and medicinal chemistry. Key projects include carbon dots, 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering, and graphene-based materials.
Elan Gorshein, DO, JD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine (Hematology) at Yale School of Medicine. He specializes in hematologic and thoracic malignancies, with a focus on the care of patients with multiple myeloma, leukemia, and other blood cancers. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rowan University, a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University, and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. His research explores treatment outcomes in hematologic malignancies, metabolic comorbidities, and healthcare policy. He has authored/co-authored over 15 peer-reviewed publications and is a sub-investigator in multiple clinical trials, including studies on novel therapies for lymphoma and lung cancer. Dr. Gorshein’s clinical expertise includes managing complex cases such as unusual cancer metastases and complications in neutropenic patients. He has been recognized with the Melvyn H. Motolinsky Research Foundation Fellow Award. His academic affiliations include the Center for Thoracic Cancers, Hematology Division, and Yale Cancer Center. He practices at the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in Guilford, emphasizing patient-centered, holistic care in line with osteopathic principles. Education: DO: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (2012) JD: Rutgers University School of Law (2012) MPH: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2017) Research Interests: Real-world efficacy of myeloma therapies, metabolic comorbidities in plasma cell disorders, and healthcare disparities in oncology outcomes. Awards: Melvyn H. Motolinsky Research Foundation Fellow Award (during fellowship). His clinical trials focus on advancing treatments for lymphoma, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Collaborators include Natalia Neparidze and Sabrina Browning, with frequent publications on treatment efficacy and patient-reported outcomes.
Dr. Barbara Safiejko-Mroczka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on cellular mechanisms of wound healing, particularly the role of cytoskeleton dynamics and extracellular matrix interactions in fibroblast behavior under normal and diabetic conditions. She investigates how hyperglycemic environments impair wound healing and studies bacterial products' impact on periodontal tissues. She has developed advanced microscopy techniques for visualizing cytoskeletal proteins and cell structures. Her teaching responsibilities include courses such as Cellular Pathology (ZOO 4113/5113), Histology (ZOO 4244), and Cell Biology (ZOO 3113). These courses emphasize the molecular and cellular basis of disease, cell structure, and metabolism. She has collaborated on interdisciplinary projects involving microbiology, materials science, and oncology. Her work bridges basic cell biology with clinical applications, addressing translational challenges in wound healing and infectious diseases. She has pioneered protocols for imaging macromolecular structures using fluorescence and electron microscopy, contributing to both research and diagnostic methodologies.
Rupak Pathak, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy. His research focuses on radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity and therapeutic interventions. BS in Zoology, University of Calcutta, India MS in Zoology, University of North Bengal, India PhD in Radiation Biology, University of Kalyani, India His work utilizes wild-type and transgenic animal models to study radiation effects on the intestine and vascular endothelial system, including simulated microgravity environments for deep space research. Recent innovations include 3D whole-mount immunostaining techniques and platelet function analysis in radiation damage mitigation. Publications highlight research in radiation biology, intestinal toxicity, and cytogenetics. Key collaborative works address radiation protection via platelet glycoproteins, intestinal recovery in non-human primates, and proteome profiling in radiation-induced injury.
