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For his work on trying to reduce side effects of whole brain radiotherapy

Kyle Wang (2014)

Senior radiation oncology resident and soon-to-be faculty member Dr. Kyle Wang has been selected as one of four Pope Clinical Trainees for 2018 by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Supported by the John William Pope Foundation, awardees are physician-scientists in training dedicated both to patient care and research to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Dr. Wang’s research focuses on ways to reduce dry mouth (“xerostomia”) in patients receiving whole-brain radiation therapy. Although a common side effect of head and neck cancer radiotherapy, xerostomia after brain irradiation is less well studied, however Dr. Wang has identified the total radiation dose to the patient’s parotid salivary glands as key in determining the frequency and severity of dry mouth that occurs following treatment.

The next step in his research, funded by a UNC Lineberger Developmental Award (see previous news item), is to conduct a clinical trial comparing the degree of dry mouth following conventional whole brain radiotherapy with a treatment plan that excludes the parotid glands from the radiation field.

Congratulations Kyle for this very prestigious honor!
Read more about Dr. Wang’s work and that of the other Pope Trainees HERE.