Resident Research

Our program has a broad and flexible research focus that includes health services and outcomes-based research, clinical and translational research, as well as basic science research opportunities within OHSU community. Our goal is to provide an opportunity to garner a meaningful research experience during the critical years of residency training.
Residents are encouraged to concurrently enroll into the Human Investigations Program (HIP), a training component within the institutional CTSA, also known as the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute. Enroll in the Masters of Clinical Research Track or the Certificate Track. The residency is structured so concurrent participating in research activities are conducted such that all ACGME and ABR requirements are met. The length of the training program is not altered with research endeavors.
Our 2022-2023 resident research projects:
Mentors
Arthur Hung, M.D.
Timur Mitin, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus
Definitive radiation and hormonal therapy in prostate cancer. Circulating tumor DNA in surveillance of HPV+ head and neck cancers.
Current research
My research focuses on the role of ADT de-escalation in the management of patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, as well as the benefits of PTV margin reductions to reduce GI toxicity. Additional interests include identifying the optimal surveillance strategy after definitive radiation therapy for HPV+ head and neck cancer, notably with the use of circulating tumor HPV DNA.
Current publications
Short-term ADT and Dose-escalated IMRT in Patients With Intermediate-risk Prostate Cancer: Benefit or Caution? Post CM, Kahn JM, Turina CB, Beer TM, Hung AY.Am J Clin Oncol. 2022 May 1;45(5):190-195. doi: 10.1097/COC.0000000000000908.
Impact of Enlarged Nonhypermetabolic Lymph Nodes on Outcomes After Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Verma V, Schonewolf CA, Cushman TR, Post CM, Doms A, Berman AT, DeVries M, Katz SI, Simone CB 2nd.Clin Lung Cancer. 2018 Nov;19(6):502-510. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2018.07.005. Epub 2018 Jul 25.PMID: 30111509
Mentor
Jerry Jaboin, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus
Radiation inducted oxidative stress via metabolic therapy
Current research
My research focuses on the role of radiation treatment in combined metabolic therapy by maximizing radiation induced oxidative stress in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
Current publications
Local Therapy for Oligoprogressive Disease: A Systematic Review of Prospective Trials. Kim H, Venkatesulu BP, McMillan MT, Verma V, Lin SH, Chang JY, Welsh JW.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022 Aug 13:S0360-3016(22)03130-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.08.027.
Role of Radiation Therapy in Modulation of the Tumor Stroma and Microenvironment. Menon H, Ramapriyan R, Cushman TR, Verma V, Kim HH, Schoenhals JE, Atalar C, Selek U, Chun SG, Chang JY, Barsoumian HB, Nguyen QN, Altan M, Cortez MA, Hahn SM, Welsh JW.Front Immunol. 2019 Feb 15;10:193. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00193. eCollection 2019.PMID: 30828330 Free PMC article. Review.
Mentors
Research focus
Global health, quality improvement/workflow
Current research
My research includes collaboration between the Institut de Cancerologie in Gabon on projects involving cervical cancer and departmental resource allocation, as well as quality improvement in safety, including pacemaker workflow, and efficiency, including oncology specific workflow applications.
Current publications
Ovarian Cancer in the Older Woman. Hissourou M., Tew W.P. (2020) In: Extermann M. (eds) Geriatric Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57415-8_26
Primary MALT Lymphoma of the Breast Treated with Definitive Radiation. Hissourou Iii M, Zia SY, Alqatari M, Strauchen J, Bakst RL.Case Rep Hematol. 2016;2016:1831792. doi: 10.1155/2016/1831792. Epub 2016 May 10.
Research focus
Women's reproductive health
Current research
With Dr. Elshaikh, my research focused on comparative outcomes in women diagnosed with early stage carcinosarcoma compared to uterine serous carcinoma. At OHSU, with Dr. Kahn, I am working in optimizing the pregnancy screening workflow within the radiation oncology department.
Current publications
Matched-pair Analysis for Survival Endpoints Between Women With Early-stage Uterine Carcinosarcoma and Uterine Serous Carcinoma. Yahya JB, Zhu S, Burmeister C, Hijaz MY, Elshaikh MA.Am J Clin Oncol. 2021 Sep 1;44(9):463-468. doi: 10.1097/COC.0000000000000851.
Elective Nodal Irradiation for Limited-stage Small-cell Lung Cancer: Survey of US Radiation Oncologists on Practice Patterns. Farrell MJ, Yahya JB, Degnin C, Chen Y, Holland JM, Henderson MA, Jaboin JJ, Harkenrider MM, Thomas CR Jr, Mitin T.Clin Lung Cancer. 2020 Sep;21(5):443-449.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2020.02.020. Epub 2020 Mar 7.PMID: 32245625
Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation for Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Survey of US Radiation Oncologists on Current Practice Patterns Farrell MJ, Yahya JB, Degnin C, Chen Y, Holland JM, Henderson MA, Jaboin JJ, Harkenrider MM, Thomas CR Jr, Mitin T.Clin Lung Cancer. 2018 Jul;19(4):371-376. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2018.02.009. Epub 2018 Feb 23.PMID: 29559208
Mentors
Research focus
Immune response to radiation therapy, Computational Biology
Current research
My current research interests are centered on evaluating the interplay between radiation & immunology for the induction durable clinical benefit along with investigating patterns of cancer care and long-term patient outcomes within the VA database.
Current publications
B7-H3 and PD-L1 Expression Are Prognostic Biomarkers in a Multi-racial Cohort of Patients with Colorectal Cancer. Zhang W, Acuna-Villaorduna A, Kuan K, Gupta S, Hu S, Ohaegbulam K, Albanese J, Kaumaya M, Levy R, Hwang RR, Zang X, Lin J, Liu Q, Maitra R, Goel S.Clin Colorectal Cancer. 2021 Feb 19:S1533-0028(21)00016-5. doi: 10.1016/j.clcc.2021.02.002.
Vitamin D Supplementation in COVID-19 Patients: A Clinical Case Series. Ohaegbulam KC, Swalih M, Patel P, Smith MA, Perrin R.Am J Ther. 2020 Sep/Oct;27(5):e485-e490. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000001222.
Being Here Now: Perspectives of Preliminary Medicine Residents at the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Karp AM, Ohaegbulam KC.Chest. 2020 Oct;158(4):1346-1347. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.008.
Current publications
MRI and PET of Brain Tumor Neuroinflammation in the Era of Immunotherapy, From the AJR Special Series on Inflammation. Kersch CN, Ambady P, Hamilton BE, Barajas RF Jr.AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2022 Apr;218(4):582-596. doi: 10.2214/AJR.21.26159. Epub 2021 Jul 14.PMID: 34259035 Free PMC article. Review.
Blood-brain barrier opening by intracarotid artery hyperosmolar mannitol induces sterile inflammatory and innate immune responses. Burks SR, Kersch CN, Witko JA, Pagel MA, Sundby M, Muldoon LL, Neuwelt EA, Frank JA.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 May 4;118(18):e2021915118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2021915118.PMID: 33906946
Radiation enhances the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides and improves chemo-radiation efficacy in brain tumor xenografts. Ambady P, Wu YJ, Kersch CN, Walker JM, Holland S, Muldoon LL, Neuwelt EA.Cancer Gene Ther. 2022 May;29(5):533-542. doi: 10.1038/s41417-021-00324-6. Epub 2021 Apr 14.PMID: 33850305 Free PMC article.
Mentor
Reid Thompson, M.D., Ph.D.
Research focus
Workflow automation, quality improvement, autosegmentation, imaging informatics
Current research
My research focuses on evaluating new software solutions for autosegmentation (computer-assisted target delineation) in radiation therapy planning and methods for improving the quality and efficiency of radiation plan review.
Current publications
Article Processing Charge Waiver Policies as a Barrier to Oncology Scholarship in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries. Gardner UG Jr, Thompson PS, Burton J, Stewart C, Fuller CD, Rooney MK, Ludmir EB.JCO Glob Oncol. 2021 Aug;7:1413-1417. doi: 10.1200/GO.21.00143.
Incoming residents:
Colton Powers, M.D.
Erin Kaya, M.D.
Resident published research
Resident Research News
February 28, 2022
Kim Ohaegbulam, M.D., Ph.D. PGY-3, has been awarded the 2022-2023 ASTRO-AstraZeneca Radiation Oncology Research Training Fellowship. This fellowship provides radiation oncology residents with unique research opportunities
on-site at an AstraZeneca facility.
January 26, 2022
Chris Deig, M.D., PGY-5, is first author on the Neoadjuvant Therapy Is Associated with Improved Chemotherapy Delivery and Overall Survival Compared to Upfront Resection in Pancreatic Cancer without Increasing Perioperative Complications.
January 22, 2022
Mohammad Hissourou, M.D., PGY-4, presented TPS496: Trials in Progress Poster Session Bridge-to-transplant stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced cirrhosis at the 2022 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.