David J. Carlson, PhD, DABR, FASTRO, FAAPM
Professor of Therapeutic RadiologyCards
About
Titles
Professor of Therapeutic Radiology
Vice Chair for Physics, Therapeutic Radiology; Director of Medical Physics, Therapeutic Radiology
Biography
Dr. Carlson serves as Professor, Vice Chair, & Director of Medical Physics in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology at the Yale School of Medicine and the Department of Radiation Oncology at Yale-New Haven Health. He is certified by the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Radiologic Physics. He completed his residency in Radiation Oncology Physics at Stanford University and received his PhD in Medical Physics from Purdue University. Dr. Carlson currently serves as Deputy Editor for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics. He is a Fellow and past Member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). He is a Past Chair of the Science Education and Program Development committee of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). He was elected as a Fellow of ASTRO in 2023 and currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of ASTRO as Vice Chair of Science Council. The goals of Dr. Carlson’s research are to improve radiation therapy outcomes for cancer patients by developing accurate models of treatment response and to advance our understanding of the underlying biophysical mechanisms that govern radiation response.
Appointments
Therapeutic Radiology
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Purdue University (2006)
- BA
- Middlebury College, Physics (2002)
- Resident
- Stanford University
- Intern
- Medical College of Wisconsin
Board Certifications
Therapeutic Medical Physics
- Certification Organization
- American Board of Radiology
- Original Certification Date
- 2009
Research
Overview
Current and Past Research Supported by:
Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
ID #: 1R21EB026553-01A1 (PI: Liu, W.)
Project: Tumor-targeted delivery and cell internalization of theranostic gadolinium nanoparticles for image-guided nanoparticle-enhanced radiation therapy
Role: Co-investigator
Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
ID #: 3UM1CA186689 (PI: LoRusso, P.)
Project: ViKTriY Early Clinical Trials Consortium
Role: Co-investigator
Agency: American Cancer Society (ACS)
ID #: 128352-RSG-15-197-01-TBG (PI: Bindra, R.)
Project: Pre-clinical development of Mibefradil as a novel glioma radiosensitizer
Role: Co-investigator
Agency: NIH/NIAID, The Dartmouth Physically-Based Biodosimetry Center for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation (Dart-Dose CMCR) Pilot Program
ID #: Pilot grant from U19AI1091173 (Swartz, H.)
Grant Name: Comparing In Vivo biodosimetry with EPR to independent physical dosimetry methods
Role: PI
Agency: Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
ID #: Subcontract #HHSO100201100024C from Dartmouth College
Project Name: In Vivo biodosimetry using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy
Role: PI
Agency: Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center (YCC)
Grant Name: Non-invasive imaging of tumor hypoxia in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy
Role: PI
Agency: American Cancer Society (ACS)
ID #: IRG-58-012-52
Grant Name: Modeling relative biological effectiveness and oxygen effects in x-ray, proton, and carbon ion radiotherapy
Role: PI
Medical Research Interests
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- July 23, 2025Source: ASTRO
Dr. David Carlson Elected to Board of ASTRO as Science Council Vice Chair
- October 03, 2024
Yale Cancer Center Physicians and Trainees Present at ASTRO
- February 28, 2024
YCC Research Publications
- January 04, 2024
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven becomes first hospital in the northeast to offer SCINTIX biology-guided radiotherapy by RefleXion
Get In Touch
Contacts
Yale School of Medicine
PO Box 208040
New Haven, CT 06520-8040
United States
Administrative Support
Locations
Clinic Building
Academic Office
789 Howard Avenue, Ste CB 368
New Haven, CT 06519
Appointments
203.688.1707