ASTRO Rebrands its Research Foundation
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today that it has rebranded its research foundation, formerly known as the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI), as Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation, signaling a renewed focus on accelerating research and improving patient care.
ASTRO said the change comes as opportunities in radiation oncology are expanding quickly, even as research funding becomes more constrained. By aligning ASTRO and its Foundation under a single, more visible identity, the organization aims to strengthen collaborations and investments and help move discoveries from early concepts into clinical benefit more rapidly.
“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. This evolution ensures that we will remain at the forefront of discovery and patient care.”
Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, said continued investment is essential to sustaining the field’s growth. “The strength of our field depends on continued investment in research and in the people who carry it forward,” he said. “Through its Foundation and other initiatives, ASTRO supports the investigators, clinicians and collaborations that will shape the future of radiation oncology.”
ASTRO noted that ROI and ASTRO have supported more than 130 investigator-initiated, patient-centered projects, investing over $12 million in research that has influenced clinical practice. The rebranded foundation will continue to mobilize resources and partnerships to advance innovation in radiation medicine.
“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. “But progress in radiation oncology doesn’t happen by chance; it happens when we invest in it. Re-envisioning ASTRO’s Foundation gives us the clarity and alignment to focus our resources where they matter most.”
ASTRO said the new name reflects both the science behind radiation therapy and the urgency of its mission, emphasizing high-impact research, expanded patient education resources, and support for early-career investigators and future leaders in the field.