David J. Brenner

David Brenner is the Director of the Columbia University Center for Radiological Research, which is the oldest and largest radiological research laboratory, worldwide. He is also the Principal Investigator of the Center for High-Throughput Minimally-Invasive Radiation Biodosimetry, a multi-institute consortium developing technologies to rapidly test individual radiation exposures after a large-scale radiological event, on a mass scale. Dr. Brenner divides his research time between the effects of high doses of ionizing radiation (relating to radiation therapy) and the effects of low doses of radiation (relating to radiological, environmental and occupational exposures): At low doses, he and Eric Hall were the first to quantify the potential risks associated with the rapidly increasing usage of CT scans in the US. At high doses, his original proposal to use small numbers of large radiotherapy doses to treat prostate cancer is increasingly being used in the clinic, with several successful randomized trials now completed.

Dr. Brenner has published more than 270 peer-reviewed papers. In addition, he is the author of two books on radiation for the lay person: Making the Radiation Therapy Decision and Radon, Risk and Remedy. He is the most recent recipient of the Failla gold medal, the annual award given by the Radiation Research Society for contributions to radiation research. He currently serves on the National Academies Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board.