Stanford Radiation Oncology

09/02/2026

Please join us in thanking Dr. Mallika Marar, MD, MBA, as she concludes her time with Stanford Radiation Oncology!

Since joining the department in October 2024 as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Theragnostics (Radiopharmaceutical Therapy), Dr. Marar has made meaningful contributions to the growth of theranostics across Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. Through her joint appointment in Radiology and her clinical work in the Division of Nuclear Medicine, she has helped advance coordinated, patient-centered care pathways for individuals receiving radiopharmaceutical therapies.

Dr. Marar has also brought tremendous enthusiasm to expanding theranostics research and education initiatives. Her expertise, collaborative spirit, and commitment to this rapidly evolving field have been deeply valued by colleagues and patients alike.

We are grateful for all that Mallika has contributed to our department and the broader Stanford community, and we wish her every success in her next chapter.

09/01/2026

We are excited to share that Jason Ross, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology, has received a $75,000 Stanford Cancer Institute Innovation Award for his proposal titled, "Enhancing Cancer Immunity by Targeting Tumor-Induced Hematopoietic Stem Cell Imbalance."

Cancer progression often mirrors aging: blood stem cells become "biased," overproducing inflammatory cells that fuel tumors while depleting tumor-fighting immune cells. Instead of attempting to repair billions of individual dysfunctional immune cells, researcher Ross developed a therapy that restores immune balance at the source by removing these biased stem cells.

Supported by the SCI Innovation Award, Ross will test whether this stem cell rejuvenation enables the immune system to destroy tumors. Because this underlying immune dysfunction occurs across many cancer types, the strategy could offer a broad alternative to traditional therapies.

Congratulations on receiving this award!

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Maximilian Diehn, MD, PhD, Jack, Lulu, and Sam Willson Professor and professor of radiation oncology, and Joel Neal, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, for receiving a $75,000 Stanford Cancer Institute Innovation Award for their proposal titled, "Predicting Response to EGFR Inhibition in NSCLC Using cfRNA."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and EGFR gene mutations are the primary driver in non-smokers. While adding chemotherapy to the standard target drug (osimertinib) extends life for some patients, it increases side effects, and doctors currently cannot predict who needs it.

Supported by the SCI Innovation Award, researchers Diehn and Neal are validating a novel blood test that analyzes circulating cancer RNA. This research aims to create a simple test to personalize therapy—ensuring high-risk patients get aggressive treatment while sparing others unnecessary toxicity.

Congratulations to the team for receiving this award!

08/27/2026

We are excited to announce that Xianjin Dai, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology, along with co-investigators Lei Xing, PhD, the Jacob Haimson and Sarah S. Donaldson Professor, Billy Loo, MD, PhD, professor of radiation oncology, and Zhuoran Jiang, PhD, clinical assistant professor of radiation oncology - radiation physics, received a $75,000 SCI Innovation Award for his proposal, "AI-Enhanced Image Registration for Upright Proton Therapy."

Radiation therapy effective for lung cancer can unintentionally damage nearby healthy heart and lung tissue. Upright proton therapy addresses this by seating patients, which expands the lungs and reduces motion during treatment. Stanford installed the world’s first ultra-compact upright system, but existing imaging tools only account for patients lying down. Supported by the SCI Innovation Award and Lung Cancer Center, researchers Dai, Xing, Loo, and Jiang are developing AI tools to align multi-position medical images, improving treatment precision and safety.

Congratulations to the team on receiving this award!

08/25/2026

Stanford Radiation Oncology congratulates Nataliya Kovalchuk, PhD, Clinical Professor of Radiation Oncology, on being awarded the Order of Princess Olha (III Degree) by the President of Ukraine.

This distinguished state honor recognizes her work together with Help Ukraine Group - HUG and their dedication to advancing radiation oncology education, training, and cancer care in Ukraine during the war.

Through her work with HUG, Dr. Kovalchuk has mobilized critical support for cancer centers across Ukraine— coordinating medical supplies, international training programs, and essential resources to sustain lifesaving oncology care during wartime.

This prestigious state honor recognizes her tireless advocacy, scientific leadership, and unwavering commitment to Ukrainian healthcare providers and patients.

Join us in celebrating this incredible milestone.

08/20/2026

Shout-out to George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers for sending special gifts and words to our amazing first proton therapy patient, Stephen DeLaTorre, including gloves signed and worn by Kittle himself!

Our resident Erron Collins was more than happy to model them for the camera. We appreciate your wonderful and meaningful support and kindness. Thank you to Leo Cancer Care and Mevion Medical Systems for making this treatment possible.

08/10/2026

Shout-out to Ruijiang Li, PhD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, who was featured in the ASCO Post article “Four Ways AI Is Transforming Patient Care— and What Lies Ahead”!

In the article, five experts discuss how artificial intelligence is individualizing treatment, improving clinical trial matching and drug discovery, and empowering patients. Dr. Li explains leveraging personalizing clinical care with AI models.

Read the full article here:

During her Presidential address at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, Robin T. Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, assessed how artificial intelligence (AI) is driving knowledge into action in the field of oncology, and...

07/29/2026

Want to join Stanford Radiation Oncology?

We are seeking a board-eligible or board-certified radiation oncologist to join the Department in the Clinician Educator line (open rank). We are particularly interested in candidates who have an interest and experience with treating gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) cancers.

The major criterion for appointment as Clinician Educators is excellence in the overall mix of clinical care, teaching, administrative and/or scholarship appropriate to the programmatic need the individual is expected to fulfill. Academic rank will be determined by the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Follow the link to apply and learn more about the position:

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Stanford University seeks a board eligible or board-certified radiation oncologist to join the Department in the Clinician Educator line (open rank). We are particularly interested in candidates who have interest and experience with treating gastrointestinal (...

07/24/2026

Please join us in celebrating the newest Fellows of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), Xuejun Gu, PhD, and Amy Yu, PhD! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

07/23/2026

We are excited to announce that Emily Smith, MD, has been appointed to the 2026-2027 RSS Residents Association Executive Committee!

Executive committee members are responsible for steering educational initiatives, mentorship programs, and career development for clinical and medical physics trainees.

Dr. Smith’s research has focused on expanding the applications of stereotactic radiosurgery, including its role in treating spinal arteriovenous malformations and its use for benign conditions in pediatric and young adult patients.

Congratulations, Dr. Smith!