The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) rebranded its research foundation, formerly the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI), as Speed of Light — The ASTRO Foundation, marking a new phase in the society’s commitment to advancing research and improving patient care in radiation oncology.
ASTRO said the change aligns the society and its foundation under a single, more visible identity to strengthen research collaborations and investments at a time when scientific opportunities are accelerating even as research funding faces increased constraints. The goal is to move promising discoveries more quickly from concept to patient benefit.
“Radiation oncology is advancing at an extraordinary pace, and our research enterprise must evolve with it,” said Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO, ASTRO CEO. “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. “Through its Foundation and other initiatives, ASTRO supports the investigators, clinicians and collaborations that will shape the future of radiation oncology.”
Together, ASTRO and ROI have supported more than 130 investigator-initiated, patient-centered projects and invested over $12 million in research that has shaped the field and informed clinical practice. Speed of Light is intended to accelerate that work by mobilizing resources, enabling new partnerships and ensuring the field remains a driving force in scientific progress.
“Every day, I see how research changes lives, from new techniques that sharpen precision to collaborations that shape how we deliver care,” 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 new name reflects both the scientific basis of radiation therapy and the urgency of the foundation’s mission. Guided by the metaphor of light — precise, focused and transformative — Speed of Light will prioritize accelerating high-impact research in emerging areas such as functional radiation medicine, radiopharmaceutical therapy and artificial intelligence; expanding patient resources to improve understanding of radiation therapy and support families through treatment; and strengthening the workforce by empowering early-career investigators and developing future leaders.
The renamed foundation launched publicly on January 1, 2026. ASTRO invited researchers, partners and supporters across the oncology community to engage with and support the foundation’s mission to accelerate progress in radiation oncology.
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