Neil Desai, M.D.

Neil Desai, M.D.

Director of Clinical Research, Radiation Oncology

  • Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Genitourinary Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer

Biography

Neil Desai, M.D., M.H.S., is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in the management and radiation treatment of genitourinary cancers, which includes cancer of the prostate, bladder, kidneys, urethra, and testes.

Dr. Desai earned his medical degree at Yale University, where he also conducted cancer biology research that led to a master’s degree. He completed residency training in radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Certified by the American Board of Radiology, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2015. He is active in publishing clinical research and as a member of the American Society of Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Desai is knowledgeable in a range of cutting-edge radiation techniques including stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), brachytherapy, and adaptive radiotherapy. He is also committed to developing and participating in clinical trials designed to improve treatments for patients with genitourinary cancers. He has a particular interest in prostate and bladder cancers, for which he notes that the need to improve treatment selection and after-effects for a patient is as important as increasing treatment efficacy.

His active clinical trial leadership includes application of genomic selection tools to treatment intensity in localized prostate cancer, integration of advanced nuclear imaging into response-based prostate cancer treatment, and use of novel radiotherapy techniques to reduce quality of life impact of treatment. In support of this work, he is grateful to receive clinical research funding from or with the NRG cooperative group, the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Texas (CPRIT), industry partners, the Dedman Family Clinical Scholars Program, and philanthropic programs.

Personal Note

In his free time, Dr. Desai enjoys spending time with his young family, exercising and trying his hand (poorly) at DIY projects.

Education & Training
  • Residency - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2011-2015), Radiation Oncology
  • Internship - Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2010-2011), Transitional Year
  • Medical School - Yale University School of Medicine (2005-2010)
Honors & Awards
  • Texas Super Doctors, Rising Star 2021
  • Texas Super Doctors, Rising Star 2020
Books & Publications
Research
  • Prostate cancer: management of post-operative patients with recurrent disease, assessing the impact of androgen receptor variants on radiotherapy and hormone therapy for prostate cancer, and sexual function following radiotherapy.
  • Lymphoma: collaboration with other institutions to explore the role of radiotherapy in those with the recently defined double-hit lymphoma. In addition, Dr. Desai is the principal investigator on a trial at UTSW exploring combination of immunotherapy checkpoint blockade with total skin radiation therapy for advanced cutaneous lymphoma.

Clinical Focus

  • Genitourinary Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Brachytherapy

See More

Q&A by Dr. Desai

2020 Leaders in Clinical Excellence video: Dr. Neil Desai