Omar Mian, MD, PhD

Dr. Omar Mian is a radiation oncologist focused on cancers of the genitourinary tract — primarily bladder, prostate and kidney cancers. As a physician-scientist, he studies the molecular features of these cancers in the lab. He investigates how genes and modifications to gene expression promote the progression of cancer from early-stage, curable forms to more aggressive and treatment-resistant ones with the goal of reversing that process, developing targeted therapies, and reducing therapeutic resistance.

His lab interprets leading-edge  medical imaging techniques that track disease progression and studies patient tumor samples that have survived radiation therapy. The lab also uses cellular and animal model systems of human disease to study the fundamental biology and evolution of common and rare variant carcinomas. Dr. Mian also studies the role of nuclear hormone receptors in regulating DNA repair and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy to identify the tell-tale biological signs of aggressive disease for which new therapies are needed.