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Dandan Zheng, Ph.D.

Dandan Zheng, Ph.D.

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About Me

Dr. Dandan Zheng is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and the Director of Medical Physics overseeing all Medical Physicists in the Department.

Prior to joining University of Rochester in 2021, Dr. Zheng was faculty at University of Nebraska Medical center and at Virginia Commonwealth Univers...
Dr. Dandan Zheng is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and the Director of Medical Physics overseeing all Medical Physicists in the Department.

Prior to joining University of Rochester in 2021, Dr. Zheng was faculty at University of Nebraska Medical center and at Virginia Commonwealth University. A nationally-recognized Medical Physicist, Dr. Zheng has served on numerous educational, scientific, and professional committees for the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP), the society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs (SDAMPP), and the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP). In recognition of her long-time contributions, Dr. Zheng has been named a Fellow by the AAPM.

Dr. Zheng has authored 5 book chapters, over 60 articles, and over 100 conference abstracts. She also serves as an associate editor for 6 journals, the book review editor for the JACMP, and an avid reviewer who has won Outstanding Reviewer Awards from the Red Journal and from the PMB.

Dr. Zheng’s clinical and research interests include quantitative imaging, advanced imaging guidance and adaptive radiation treatment, artificial intelligence (AI), technology improvement and innovation in SRS, SBRT and brachytherapy, and synergistic immune-radiotherapy. She has developed radiomics-based prediction models for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification, other AI-based methods for radiotherapy planning and dosimetry, and novel target prediction and antigen identification methods for immunotherapy. Many innovative imaging and radiotherapy technologies and protocols developed by Dr. Zheng have also been applied in commercial medical products and adopted by international clinical guidelines to treat thousands of cancer patients.

Faculty Appointments

Professor - Department of Radiation Oncology (SMD)

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

iLead Leadership Training Program, University of Nebraska Medical
Center 2019 - 2020

Faculty Success Program, National Center for Faculty Development &
Diversity 2015 - 2016

Post-doctoral Associate, Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth
University 2007 - 2009

Education

PhD | University of California, Davis. Applied Science. 2007

MS | University of California, Davis. Biomedical Engineering. 2007

MS | University of California, Davis. Applied Science. 2005

BS | China-University of Science and Technology. Biological Science. 2003

Awards

Fellow. 2022

Research mentor for the First Place Winner Jeffrey Wong. 2021

Research mentor for the First Place winner Sarah Wisnoskie. 2020

Finalist of the AAPM Innovation in Medical Physics Education Symposium. 2019

Outstanding Reviewer Award, Physics in Medicine and Biology. 2017

Chancellor's Council Silver "U" Award. 2017

Finalist of the AAPM Innovation in Medical Physics Education Symposium. 2015

Outstanding Reviewer Award. 2013

Research Fellowship. 2006 - 2007

Outstanding College Graduate Award - Province Level. 2003

Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Fellowship. 2003 - 2004

Excellent Undergraduate Scholarship. 2002

Excellent Undergraduate Scholarship. 2000

Excellent Undergraduate Scholarship. 1999

Outstanding Freshman Award. 1998

Publications

Journal Articles

How Does the Number of Brain Metastases Correlate With Normal Brain Exposure in Single-Isocenter Multitarget Multifraction Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

Zheng D, Yoon J, Jung H, Lemus OMD, Gou L, Zhou Y, Usuki KY, Hardy S, Milano MT

Advances in radiation oncology.. 2024 June 9 (6):101499. Epub 03/19/2024.

Dosimetric evaluation of LINAC-based single-isocenter multi-target multi-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery with more than 20 targets: comparing MME, HyperArc, and RapidArc

Jung H; Yoon Y; Lemus OD; Tanny S; Zhou Y; Milano M; Usuki K; Hardy S; Zheng D.

Radiat Oncol. 2024; 19(1): 19.

Dosimetric evaluation of LINAC-based single-isocenter multi-target multi-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery with more than 20 targets: comparing MME, HyperArc, and RapidArc

Jung H; Yoon Y; Lemus OD; Tanny S; Zhou Y; Milano M; Usuki K; Hardy S; Zheng D.

Radiat Oncol. 2024; 19(1): 19.

Influence of air mapping errors on the dosimetric accuracy of prostate CBCT-guided online adaptive radiation therapy.

Lemus OMD, Tanny S, Cummings M, Webster M, Wancura J, Jung H, Zhou Y, Yoon J, Pacella M, Zheng D

Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2023 October 24 (10):e14057. Epub 06/05/2023.

Optimizing induction chemotherapy regimens for radiotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Li Y, Bi J, Pi G, He H, Li Y, Zheng D, Wei Z, Han G

Cancer medicine. 2023 April 12 (8):9449-9457. Epub 03/05/2023.

A quick guide on implementing and quality assuring 3D printing in radiation oncology

Ashenafi M; Jeong S; Wancura JN; Gou L; Webster MJ; Zheng D.

J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2023; 24(11): e14102.

Association of Radiation Dose to the Amygdala-Orbitofrontal Network with Emotion Recognition Task Performance in Patients with Low-Grade and Benign Brain Tumors

Hardy SJ; Finkelstein A; Milano MT; Schifitto G; Sun H; Holley K; Usuki K; Weber MT; Zheng D; Seplaki CL; Janelsins M.

Cancers (Basel). 2023; 15(23): 5544.

RBE-weighted dose and its impact on the risk of acute coronary event for breast cancer patients treated with intensity modulated proton therapy.

Liu C, Bradley JA, Zheng D, Vega RBM, Beltran CJ, Mendenhall N, Liang X

Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2022 April 23 (4):e13527. Epub 01/21/2022.

Using Quantitative Imaging for Personalized Medicine in Pancreatic Cancer: A Review of Radiomics and Deep Learning Applications

Preuss K; Thach N; Liang X; Baine M; Chen J; Zhang C; Du H; Yu H; Lin C; Hollingsworth MA; Zheng D.

Cancers (Basel). 2022; 14(7): 1654.

Effects of interobserver and interdisciplinary segmentation variabilities on CT-based radiomics for pancreatic cancer.

Wong J, Baine M, Wisnoskie S, Bennion N, Zheng D, Yu L, Dalal V, Hollingsworth MA, Lin C, Zheng D

Scientific reports.. 2021 August 1111 (1):16328. Epub 08/11/2021.

Associations between Statin/Omega3 Usage and MRI-Based Radiomics Signatures in Prostate Cancer.

Shi Y, Wahle E, Du Q, Krajewski L, Liang X, Zhou S, Zhang C, Baine M, Zheng D

Diagnostics.. 2021 January 711 (1)Epub 01/07/2021.

The Potential Use of Radiomics with Pre-Radiation Therapy MR Imaging in Predicting Risk of Pseudoprogression in Glioblastoma patient's

Baine, M.; Burr, J.; Du, Q.; Zhang, C.; Liang, Z.; Krajewski, L.; Zima, L.; Rux, G.; Zhang, C.; Zheng, D.

Journal of Imaging. 2021; 7(2): 17.

Book review of artificial intelligence in medicine Edited by Xing, Lei, Giger, Maryellen, and Min, James

Zheng, D.

Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics. 2021; 22(1): 355-356.

Radiotherapy workflow and protection procedures during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak: Experience of the Hubei Cancer Hospital in Wuhan, China.

Wei W, Zheng D, Lei Y, Wu S, Verma V, Liu Y, Wei X, Bi J, Hu D, Han G

Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.. 2020 July 148 :203-210. Epub 03/30/2020.

Dosimetric consequences of image guidance techniques on robust optimized intensity-modulated proton therapy for treatment of breast Cancer.

Liang X, Mailhot Vega RB, Li Z, Zheng D, Mendenhall N, Bradley JA

Radiation oncology.. 2020 February 2715 (1):47. Epub 02/27/2020.

Using Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beams in electronic Tissue compensation (ECOMP) Whole Breast Irradiation with Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH)

Wisnoskie, S.; Liang, X.; Wahl, A.; Bennion, N.; Granatowicz, A.; Zhou, S.; Zheng, D.

JACMP. 2020; 21(12): 280-287.

"Incorporation of the LETd-weighted biological dose in the evaluation of breast intensity-modulated proton therapy plans"

Liu, C.; Zheng, D.; Bradley, J.; Mailhot Vega, R.; Zhang, Y.; Indelicato, D.; Mendenhall, N.; Liang, X.

Acta Oncologia. 2020; 16: 1-8.

Review of radiomics and radiogenomics and big data in radiation oncology

Zheng, D.

Journal of Applied Clinical medical Physics. 2020; 21(8): 326-328.

Radiomics-Based Outcome Prediction for Pancreatic Cancer Following Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Parr, E.; Du, Q.; Zhang; C.; Lin, C.; Kamal, A.; McAlister, J.; Liang, X.; Bavitz, K.; Rux, G.; Hollingsworth, M.; Baine, M.; Zheng, D.

Cancers. 2020; .

Minimum dose rate estimation for pulsed FLASH radiotherapy: A dimensional analysis

Zhou, SM.; Zheng, D.; Fan, Q.; Yan, Y.; Wang, S.; Lei, Y.; Besemer, A.; Zhou, C.; Enke, C.

Medical Physics. 2020; .

Radiation Therapy Care During a Major Outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan

Wu, S.; Zheng, D.; Liu, Y.; Hu, D.; Wei, W.; Han, G.

Advances in Radiation Oncology. 2020; 5(4): 531-533.

Correlation of dosimetric factors with the development of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis in stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Ryckman, J.; Baine, M.; Carmicheal, J.; Osayande, F.; Sleightholm, R.; Samson, K.; Zheng, D.; Zhen, W.; Lin, C.; Zhang, C.

Radiation Oncology. 2020; 15(33).

Using Robust Optimization for Skin Flashing in Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment: A Feasibility Study

Liang, X.; Bradley, J.; Vega, R.; Rutenberg, M.; Zheng, D.; Getman, N.; Norton, K.; Mendenhall, N.; Li, Z.

Practical Radiation Oncology. 2020; 10(1): 59-69.

MR-linac is the best modality for lung SBRT.

Godley A, Zheng D, Rong Y

Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2019 June 20 (6):7-11. Epub 05/21/2019.

The impact of dose algorithms on tumor control probability in intensity-modulated proton therapy for breast cancer.

Liang X, Bradley JA, Zheng D, Rutenberg M, Mailhot Vega R, Mendenhall N, Li Z

Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB).. 2019 May 61 :52-57. Epub 05/03/2019.

Technical Assessment of an Automated Treatment Planning on Dose Escalation of Pancreas Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Wang S, Zheng D, Lin C, Lei Y, Verma V, Smith A, Ma R, Enke CA, Zhou S

Technology in cancer research & treatment.. 2019 January 118 :1533033819851520. Epub 1900 01 01.

Artificial Intelligence in Radiotherapy Treatment Planning: Present and Future.

Wang C, Zhu X, Hong JC, Zheng D

Technology in cancer research & treatment.. 2019 January 118 :1533033819873922. Epub 1900 01 01.

ITV-Based Robust Optimization for VMAT Planning of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Lung Cancer.

Liang X, Zheng D, Mamalui-Hunter M, Flampouri S, Hoppe BS, Mendenhall N, Li Z

Practical radiation oncology.. 2019 January 9 (1):38-48. Epub 08/20/2018.

A comprehensive dosimetric study of Monte Carlo and pencil-beam algorithms on intensity-modulated proton therapy for breast cancer

Liang, X.; Li, Z.; Zheng, D.; Bradley, JA.; Rutenberg, M.; Mendenhall, N.

J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2019; 20(1): 128-136.

Patterns of Care and Outcomes of Elderly Esophageal Cancer Patients Not Meeting Age-based Criteria of the CROSS Trial

Verma, V.; Haque, W.; Zheng, D.; Osayande, F.; Lin, C.

American Journal of clinical Oncology. 2019; 42(1): 67-74.

Radiomic feature stability across 4D respiratory phases and its impact on lung tumor prognosis prediction.

Du Q, Baine M, Bavitz K, McAllister J, Liang X, Yu H, Ryckman J, Yu L, Jiang H, Zhou S, Zhang C, Zheng D

PloS one.. 2019 14 (5):e0216480. Epub 05/07/2019.

Can the Student Outperform the Master? A Plan Comparison Between Pinnacle Auto-Planning and Eclipse knowledge-Based RapidPlan Following a Prostate-Bed Plan Competition.

Smith A, Granatowicz A, Stoltenberg C, Wang S, Liang X, Enke CA, Wahl AO, Zhou S, Zheng D

Technology in cancer research & treatment.. 2019 18 :1533033819851763. Epub 1900 01 01.

Books

Methods in Molecular Biology (2023)

Chapter: B-cell epitope predictions using computational methods,

Authors: Zheng, D.; Liang, S.; Zhang, C.

Publisher: Computer-Aided Antibody Design, Springer Nature 2023

Artificial Intelligence in Radiation Oncology (2023)

Chapter: Artificial Intelligence in Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

Authors: Zhu X; Fan J; Chawla A; Zheng D

Publisher: World Scientific Publishing 2023

Methods in Molecular Biology (2019)

Chapter: SVMTriP: A method to predict B-cell linear antigenic epitopes, in Immunoinformatics - Methods and Protocols,

Authors: Yao, B.; Zheng, D.; Liang, S.; Zhang, C.

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media, Humana Press, New York 2019

Methods in Molecular Biology, (2019)

Chapter: EPCES and EPSVR: Prediction of B-cell Antigenic Epitopes on Protein Surfaces with conformational information, in Immunoinformatics - Methods and Protocols

Authors: Liang, S.; Zheng, D.; Yao, B.; Zhang. C.

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media, Humana Press, New York 2019

Recent Advancements and Applications in Dosimetry (2018)

Chapter: Thermal imaging applications in HDR brachytherapy dosimetry

Authors: Zhu, X.; Zheng, D.

Publisher: Nova Science Publishers 2018