ARLINGTON, Va., January 1, 2026 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced that it has rebranded its research foundation, formerly the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI), as Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation.
The change aims to align ASTRO and its foundation under a single, more visible identity to strengthen research collaborations and investments and accelerate the translation of discoveries into patient care amid growing scientific opportunity and constrained research funding.
“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.”
“The strength of our field depends on continued investment in research and in the people who carry it forward,” said Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors.
Since its founding, ASTRO and ROI have supported more than 130 investigator-initiated, patient-centered projects and invested over $12 million in research that has influenced clinical practice. Speed of Light will mobilize resources and partnerships to accelerate high-impact research in areas such as functional radiation medicine, radiopharmaceutical therapy and artificial intelligence, expand patient resources that improve understanding of radiation therapy, and strengthen the workforce by supporting early-career investigators and future leaders.
“Progress in radiation oncology doesn’t happen by chance; it happens when we invest in it,” said Gita Suneja, MD, MSHP, FASTRO, president of the Foundation’s board of trustees. “Re-envisioning ASTRO’s Foundation gives us the clarity and alignment to focus our resources where they matter most.”
The renamed foundation launched publicly January 1, 2026. ASTRO invites researchers, partners and supporters to engage with and support the foundation’s mission. Information on funding and partnership opportunities is available at SpeedofLightFoundation.org.
Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation accelerates bold and innovative ideas in radiation medicine to expand access to effective treatments and improve patient outcomes. Founded in 2006 as the Radiation Oncology Institute, the foundation relaunched in 2026 as Speed of Light and operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on funding high-impact science, expanding patient resources and strengthening the radiation oncology workforce.
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 oncology professionals. Radiation therapy contributes to approximately 40% of cancer cures worldwide, and more than one million Americans receive radiation treatments each year. For patient information on radiation therapy, visit RTAnswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit ASTRO.org.
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