ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 1, 2026 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced that it has rebranded its research foundation, formerly the Radiation Oncology Institute, as Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation.
The change aligns the foundation more closely with ASTRO and aims to accelerate the translation of research into patient care at a time when scientific opportunities in radiation oncology are expanding while research funding is constrained. ASTRO said the new identity is intended to strengthen research collaborations and investments so discoveries move more quickly from concept to clinical benefit.
“Radiation oncology is advancing at an extraordinary pace, and our research enterprise must evolve with it,” said ASTRO CEO Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO. “Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation will harness this momentum to drive progress across the field in the pursuit of tomorrow’s cures.”
Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, said continued investment in research and the people who conduct it is essential. “Through its Foundation and other initiatives, ASTRO supports the investigators, clinicians and collaborations that will shape the future of radiation oncology,” he said.
Since its founding, ASTRO and the former Radiation Oncology Institute have advanced investigator-initiated, patient-centered research by stewarding more than 130 projects and investing over $12 million in science that has influenced clinical practice. Speed of Light will focus on mobilizing resources, enabling partnerships and accelerating high-impact science in radiation medicine.
Gita Suneja, MD, MSHP, FASTRO, president of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said research drives improvements in patient care and requires sustained support. “Re-envisioning ASTRO’s Foundation gives us the clarity and alignment to focus our resources where they matter most,” she said.
Priority areas for the renamed foundation include accelerating research in emerging fields such as functional radiation medicine, radiopharmaceutical therapy and artificial intelligence; expanding patient resources to improve understanding of radiation therapy and support patients and families; and strengthening the radiation oncology workforce by empowering early-career investigators and developing future leaders.
The renamed foundation launched publicly Jan. 1, 2026. ASTRO invites researchers, partners and supporters across the oncology community to engage with and support the foundation’s work. Information on funding and partnership opportunities is available at SpeedofLightFoundation.org.
About Speed of Light
Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation accelerates innovative ideas in radiation medicine to expand access to effective treatments. Founded in 2006 by ASTRO as the Radiation Oncology Institute, the foundation relaunched in 2026 as Speed of Light to reflect a focused approach to advancing science and patient care. Organized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, the foundation supports high-impact research, patient resources and workforce development. More information is available at SpeedofLightFoundation.org.
About ASTRO
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world’s largest professional society dedicated to advancing radiation oncology, with about 10,000 members including physicians, nurses, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other professionals. Radiation therapy is integral to roughly 40 percent of cancer cures worldwide, and more than one million Americans receive radiation treatments each year. For information on radiation therapy, visit RTAnswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit ASTRO.org.
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