Massimo Cristofanilli, M.D.

Dr. Ferrarone graduated medical school from New York Medical College. He completed both his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in medical oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. After his fellowship, Dr. Ferrarone received training in cancer biology research under the guidance of the Nobel laureate Dr. Harold Varmus. Dr. Ferrarone’s clinical and research efforts are focused on lung cancer. In his laboratory, he studies how mutations in certain genes influence the growth of tumors and their interaction with the immune system. The aim of his research is to provide new insights into the behavior of lung cancer, to enable the development of new cancer treatments and the rational design of clinical trials.

Dr. Silvia Formenti is Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell, Associate Director of the Meyer Cancer Center and Radiation Oncologist in Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. A prolific researcher, she has published over 190 papers recognized by high impact journals like JAMA, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, etc. During the past twelve years Dr. Formenti has introduced a paradigm shift in radiation biology, by elucidating the role of ionizing radiation on the immune system, and demonstrating efficacy of combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy in solid tumors. She has translated preclinical work to clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. Dr. Formenti has introduced a break-through strategy of recovering an immunological equilibrium in the setting of metastatic disease, by converting a metastasis into an in situ, individualized vaccine: in the presence of immune checkpoint blockade (anti-CTLA-4, anti-PDL-1) the irradiated tumor becomes an immunogenic hub, similar to a vaccine. Once successfully immunized against the irradiated site, the host can develop an anti-tumor immune response capable to reject the other metastases. In some patients with metastatic disease refractory to standard treatment the combination of local radiation and immune check point blockade has already resulted in durable complete remissions, sustained for years after treatment (without any other additional interventions). Her work has opened a new field of application for radiotherapy, whereby localized radiation can be used as an adjuvant to immunotherapy of solid tumors and lymphomas. Dr. Formenti has been funded by grants from NIH, Department Of Defense, American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Research Foundation. She is currently leading four investigator-initiated clinical trials of immunotherapy and radiotherapy.Another area of her research consists of drastically reducing the risk late cardiovascular toxicity of breast cancer radiotherapy with a prone technique of radiation that excludes heart and lung from the radiation fields. Recognized by high impact journals like JAMA and NEJM, her research has resulted in a U.S. patent and in a CME course to train in this technique, offered since 2007, with wide international outreach and training.

John Ng, M.D. is a Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Presbyterian Hospital. As a native New Yorker, he received his undergraduate degree in Physics at Columbia University. He went to medical school at Harvard and also received a Master of Science degree in Biophysics from Harvard University. He received his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School, jointly with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as part of the Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program. He returned to New York City and the Columbia University Medical Center for his residency training in Radiation Oncology, where he also served as a chief resident. He joined the Weill Cornell Medical Center as faculty, where he serves as attending physician for Breast Oncology and for Gastrointestinal Oncology. His most recent awards include the Faculty Educator of the Year Award from the Weill Cornell New York-Presbyterian Residency Program, a RSNA Roentgen Research Award, an ASCO Research Travel Award, and a NCCN Travel Grant.Dr. Ng was recently appointed the Chair of the Radiation Oncology Section of New York Roentgen Society, the only scientific group that congregates radiation oncologists in the New York Metropolitan area and is comprised of leaders in the fields of diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology. He also currently serves as a Program Committee member for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), serves on the Economics Committee of the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), and is an active Program Committee member of the New York Metropolitan Breast Cancer Group.Areas of Specialization:Breast Cancer, Gastrointestinal Cancers, Breast Intraoperative Radiotherapy, Breast Balloon Brachytherapy, Pancreatic Cancer, Sarcoma, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT).Research:Dr. Ng’s research is focused on developing novel radiation techniques that can reduce treatment side effects and improve outcomes. One area of particular focus is developing partial breast radiotherapy techniques to treat less breast tissue with less radiation to reduce side effects and to shorten treatment times.Another research interest is advancing radiotherapy technologies to treat pancreatic cancer. He is currently writing a textbook review on Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Radiation Therapy and working on a review on minimizing malignancy risks after radiation therapy.He is also actively involved in the development of new drugs and agents to use with radiotherapy to improve cure rates for breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers. Presently, his group is collaborating with others in developing skin products to decrease skin side effects from breast radiotherapy.