Bio
With a foundation in physics and radiation biology, my academic journey has been dedicated to mastering the complex interactions between various forms of radiation and their applications across the breadth of imaging techniques. My expertise extends to the design and execution of primary and metastatic mouse-tumor models, instrumental in advancing early disease detection and therapeutic innovation. I am highly skilled in the nuanced field of in vivo contrast-enhanced molecular imaging, utilizing an array of imaging modalities, and in assisting image-guided radiation therapies. My early research was pivotal in creating contrast agents for molecular imaging probes, specifically targeting markers in endothelial cells of primary and metastatic tumors. In the recent phase of my career, I have turned my attention to ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) irradiation technology for preclinical therapy. Through comprehensive research and experimentation, I have been at the forefront of configuring linear accelerators for optimal FLASH radiation delivery, a technique that promises to revolutionize cancer treatment by minimizing harm to healthy tissue while effectively targeting tumor cells. My investigative work has not only illuminated the underlying radiobiological principles of the FLASH effect but has also been pivotal in developing and fine-tuning specific in vivo irradiation strategies. This includes the meticulous engineering of mouse shields and collimators for anatomy-specific radiation delivery and the design and fabrication of dosimetric phantoms and protocols that ensure precise and reliable dosimetry.
Current Role at Stanford
Currently, I serve as the Deputy Director of the Pre-clinical Radiotherapy core of the Radiation Oncology department, where I lead a team of Physics Assistants focused on developing dosimetric consensus across pre-clinical orthovoltage and MeV irradiation platforms. We implement clinical calibration and quality assurance principles in preclinical settings. The core provides equipment training to users, offers treatment planning support, and provides services for custom 3D-design, fabrication, and characterization of collimators and shielding for in vivo radiation treatments.
Concurrently, I have been a research scientist at the Loo laboratory. Our laboratory stands at the forefront of FLASH radiobiology research, providing the only pre-clinical FLASH electron platforms to over 10 laboratories spanning various disciplines, while our multi-institutional and international collaborations focus on introducing dosimetric harmonization across various FLASH electron platforms.
