SUMMARY
The research of Nadia N. Laack, M.D., focuses on improving outcomes for patients diagnosed with central nervous system tumors and sarcomas, with an emphasis on Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma. Dr. Laack is investigating new imaging techniques to evaluate treatment responses and guide therapy decisions through advanced radiotherapy techniques, such as stereotactic body radiosurgery.
She worked with Google Health to validate an algorithm to automate contouring of healthy tissue and organs from tumors and develop adaptive dosage and treatment plans for patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck. This project resulted in an algorithm that will improve quality of radiation plans and patient outcomes while reducing treatment planning times and improving the efficiency of radiotherapy practice.
Dr. Laack and her team conduct critical clinical trials and comparative effectiveness research to demonstrate lower morbidity, better patient outcomes and lower overall cost of care for patients undergoing proton beam therapy.
Her research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, Brains Together for a Cure and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation . Her findings have been published in prominent peer-reviewed journals.
In addition to managing her clinical and research activities, Dr. Laack is a former residency program director and remains active in education, mentoring medical students and radiation oncology residents and teaching and training through lectures to students studying radiation at Mayo Clinic.
Focus areas
- Improving treatment and outcomes for patients through advanced imaging and radiotherapy techniques, such as:
- Stereotactic radiosurgery, radionuclide therapy and proton radiotherapy to treat brain tumors.
- Stereotactic body radiosurgery and proton radiotherapy to treat sarcoma.
- Reducing treatment toxicity for brain tumors.
- Improving outcomes for patients with skull base tumors, such as chordomas and chondrosarcomas, with advanced radiotherapy techniques, including proton beam and heavy particle therapy.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Laack's research leads to better quality of life and results for patients diagnosed with central nervous system tumors and sarcomas. Her work shapes best practices for rare central nervous system tumors and has reduced the toxicity of brain radiation.
Her team studies low-grade glioma, a growth of cells that starts in the brain or spinal cord and forms a tumor as it grows. This work guides the treatment of glioma. Her team's work shows when less aggressive treatment may help and when more-aggressive treatment, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy or investigational therapy, may help due to a patient's poor outlook.
Dr. Laack's research shows how tumor biology and imaging characteristics may shape the treatment of gliomas. Her work also demonstrates that certain genetic phenotypes of anaplastic astrocytoma — a rare and harmful brain cancer — lead to better outcomes when chemotherapy is used. Her team has shown that artificial intelligence algorithms can be used to determine these genetic phenotypes.
Professional highlights
- Society of Chairs of Academic Radiation Oncology Programs:
- Chair, 2024-present.
- Vice chair, 2023-2024.
- Secretary, 2022-2023.
- Enterprise co-deputy director for cancer practice, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2022-present.
- Hitachi Professor of Radiation Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, 2022-present.
- Children's Oncology Group:
- Member, Ewing Sarcoma Committee, 2008-present.
- Member, Osteosarcoma Committee, 2008-present.
- Member, Neurotoxicity Cancer Control Committee, 2008-present.
- Vice chair for radiation, Bone Tumor Committee, 2008-present.
- Representative, Children's Oncology Group, European Ewing Consortium, 2021-2023.
- Minnesota Top Doctor, Radiation Oncology, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic:
- Diversity leader, 2015-2019.
- Mayo Fellows' Association Teacher of the Year, 2015.