About

David J. Brenner, PhD, DSc, is the Higgins Professor of Radiation Biophysics at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, with additional appointments in Radiation Oncology and Environmental Health Sciences. He directs the Center for Radiological Research and the Radiological Research Accelerator Facility at Columbia University Medical Center. His career began in theoretical physics, applying quantum mechanics to radiation therapy, and he has maintained a strong interest in applying advanced mathematics and physics concepts to biological problems. His research focuses on understanding the effects of both high and low doses of radiation on people. At high doses, his work aims to improve radiation therapy for cancer treatment, with particular emphasis on cervical, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, including exploring the mechanisms of charged particle therapy such as carbon-ion therapy. At low doses, his research addresses radiation risks associated with medical imaging, radiological terrorism, airport scanners, nuclear power, and space travel. Brenner's team investigates ionizing radiation types, including x rays, neutrons, alpha particles, and carbon ions, to optimize benefits and minimize risks. In recent years, Brenner has also worked on innovative approaches to combat drug-resistant bacteria and airborne viruses using specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light that are both safe and effective. His contributions extend to policy and advisory roles, including memberships in the National Academy of Sciences and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. His work aims to maximize the beneficial applications of radiation in medicine and industry while understanding and mitigating its potential harms.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Materials science
• Optoelectronics
• Chemistry
• Virology
• Biology
• Optics
• Physics
• Environmental science
• Pathology

Selected publications

• Further insights on the antimicrobial effectiveness of far‐ <scp>UVC</scp> light

  Photochemistry and Photobiology · 2026-04-29

  articleSenior author

  The anti-microbial capacity of far-ultraviolet C (UVC) light (200-235 nm) has been shown for a variety of pathogens. There is evidence that far-UVC has limited ability to damage human skin and eyes; therefore, far-UVC fixtures could be used to continuously disinfect occupied indoor spaces and be a practical intervention for pandemic control. Our group has previously shown that 222 nm inactivated aerosolized viruses as well as drug-resistant bacteria when exposed on agar surfaces or in aerosol. This work extends those studies and presents novel findings from a series of experiments conducted over the past five years, all aimed at probing different aspects of the antimicrobial effectiveness of far-UVC light. Specifically, the study (1) describes the susceptibility of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV OC43) exposed on a plastic surface to different sources of far-UVC; (2) describes the survival of clinical bacterial isolates exposed to 222 nm on agar surfaces; (3) evaluates a suitable surrogate of human viruses exposed to 222 nm in aerosol; (4) compares the inactivation of HCoV OC43 exposed to 222 nm on surfaces, aerosol, or in aqueous solution. By integrating complementary observations, the results contribute further evidence supporting the effectiveness of far-UVC against pathogens exposed under different laboratory conditions.

  PublisherDOI

• Temporal dynamics of radiotherapy and chemotherapy response in lower-grade gliomas using causal machine learning

  medRxiv · 2026-03-02

  articleOpen access

  Lower-grade gliomas (World Health Organization [WHO] grades 2-3) exhibit variable treatment responses, yet clinical decisions remain guided by population-level trial results. Standard causal survival forests estimate treatment effects at individual time horizons but lack methodology to synthesize these into interpretable temporal trajectories. Here, we apply the Causal Analysis of Survival Trajectories (CAST) framework, a recently developed extension of causal survival forests that synthesizes horizon-specific causal effect estimates into smooth temporal curves while accounting for between-horizon covariances via bootstrap estimation and Ledoit-Wolf shrinkage. We apply CAST to estimate time-varying, heterogeneous effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 776 patients with lower-grade gliomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n=512) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA; n=264), analyzing six treatment-outcome scenarios and adjusting for age, sex, WHO grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, 1p/19q codeletion, and extent of resection using elastic net propensity scores with overlap weighting. CAST curves reveal that chemotherapy provides consistent, sustained benefits across both cohorts; survival probability gains peak at 0.31 at 72-84 months for TCGA overall survival and 0.46 at 48 months for progression-free survival, with restricted mean survival time gains of 18.4 and 32.5 months at 10 years, respectively. CGGA chemotherapy shows delayed but large positive effects (survival probability peak 0.48 at 108 months). Radiotherapy effects are mixed, with modest E-values indicating sensitivity to residual confounding by indication. Subgroup CAST curves identify age at diagnosis as the dominant driver of treatment effect heterogeneity (46-56% of splits). All findings are robust to placebo permutation, simulated unobserved confounder, and negative control refutation tests. The CAST framework provides a general-purpose tool for temporal treatment effect visualization applicable beyond neuro-oncology.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effects of Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Drops on the Tear Film Assessed by a Novel High-Resolution Tear Film Imager

  Diagnostics · 2026-05-13

  articleOpen access

  Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering drops on the sublayers of the human tear film as assessed by a novel nanometer-resolution Tear Film Imager (TFI, AdOM, Israel). Methods: In a prospective, cross-sectional study, 98 eyes from 56 adult human subjects were imaged using the TFI. The dataset included data from 18 eyes from 12 subjects treated with preserved IOP-lowering drops and 80 eyes from 44 control subjects not under ocular hypotensive therapy. Subjects in the IOP treatment group used a variety of IOP-lowering medications, including prostaglandin analogs, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha agonists, and combination drops. A linear mixed effects model was used to assess the association between IOP-lowering therapy and tear film (TF) metrics, controlling for age and intra-individual correlation. The following parameters were measured: muco-aqueous layer thickness (MALT), muco-aqueous layer thinning rate (MALTR), lipid layer thickness (LLT), lipid map uniformity (LMU), inter-blink intervals (IBI), and lipid break-up time (LBUT). Results: Average ages significantly differed (p = 0.013) between the treatment group (66.5 years) and control group (average age 51.5 years), and thus results were adjusted for age accordingly. IOP was 17.1 mmHg in the treatment group and 16.1 mmHg in the control group. When analyzing the sublayers of the TF, MALTR had a significant association with IOP-lowering therapy after adjusting for age, with a difference of −52.68 nm/s; 95% confidence interval [−96.87, −8.48]; p-value = 0.020. Additionally, IBI was significantly associated with IOP-lowering therapy after log transformation (p = 0.049), with shorter IBI in the treatment group. All other metrics (MALT, LLT, LMU, and LBUT) were statistically insignificant (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: These pilot results suggest that IOP-lowering drops may accelerate thinning of the TF, specifically the muco-aqueous layer. Longitudinal studies with significantly larger samples are needed to specify the differential impact of various ocular hypotensive therapies on the human TF and the clinical implications of these findings.

  PublisherDOI

• Estimating temporal treatment-effect patterns of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in lower-grade gliomas using causal machine learning

  Scientific Reports · 2026-05-23

  articleOpen access

  Treatment decisions for lower-grade gliomas (WHO grades 2–3) rest on trial averages, which lack temporal resolution. We applied Causal Analysis of Survival Trajectories (CAST), a causal-machine-learning method that builds treatment-effect trajectories from horizon-specific estimates, to 776 adults from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 512) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA, n = 264) across six radiotherapy and alkylating-chemotherapy scenarios on overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Elastic-net propensity scores with overlap weighting (target: average treatment effect on the overlap population, ATO) balanced age, sex, grade, IDH, 1p/19q, and extent of resection. Chemotherapy showed adjusted survival-probability gains peaking at 0.34 (95% CI -0.32 to 1.00) at 84 months (TCGA OS) and 0.48 (0.04 to 0.92) at 108 months (CGGA OS); E-values of 5.1–27.6 indicate robustness to unmeasured confounding. Radiotherapy estimates were mixed (E-values 1.1–5.1) and are reported as adjusted associations sensitive to residual confounding from missing extent-of-resection and performance-status data, not as evidence of treatment-induced effect. Age drove most heterogeneity (46–52% of splits); refutation tests supported the chemotherapy findings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Using skin bi‐fold thickness changes for assessment of <scp>SKH</scp>‐1 mice exposed to <scp>UVC</scp> radiation

  Photochemistry and Photobiology · 2025-10-18

  article

  The SKH-1 mouse model is commonly used to assess the effects of ultraviolet light exposure on skin using visual and biological endpoints. Although skin bi-fold thickness is a well-established quantitative measure of edema, evidence characterizing its use to evaluate skin responses in the UVC range remains limited. This study evaluated skin bi-fold thickness measurements made using a digital caliper. Hairless SKH-1 mice were exposed using the narrow bandwidth output from a monochromator with wavelengths from 200 to 270 nm. Post-exposure thickness measurements were normalized against pre-exposure thickness measurements to determine the fold change. These findings were compared with qualitative visual assessments of changes to the skin. The results indicate that quantitative measures of increases in skin thickness are correlated with subjective visual scoring measures. The observed magnitude of the bi-fold change following UVC exposures was limited in this study because exposures were at doses close to the threshold dose for causing a visually observed change to the skin. The results support using skin bi-fold measurements for quantifying skin responses to ultraviolet light exposure.

  PublisherDOI

• Effects of Germicidal Far-UVC on Ozone and Particulate Matter in a Conference Room

  ChemRxiv · 2025-02-14

  preprintOpen access

  The application of 222 nm light from KrCl excimer lamps (GUV222 or Far-UVC) is a promising approach to reduce the indoor transmission of airborne pathogens, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. GUV222 inactivates airborne pathogens and is believed to be relatively safe for human skin and eye exposure. However, UV light initiates photochemical reactions which may negatively impact indoor air quality. We conducted a series of experiments to assess the formation of ozone (O3), and resulting formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), induced by commercial far-UVC devices in an office environment (small conference room) with an air exchange rate of 1.3 h-1. We studied scenarios with a single far-UVC lamp, corresponding to the manufacturer’s recommendations for disinfection of a space that size, and with four far-UVC lamps, to test conditions of greater far-UVC fluence. The single lamp did not significantly impact O3 or fine particulate matter levels in the room. Consistent with previous studies in the literature, the higher far-UVC fluences lead to increases in O3 of 5 to 10 ppb above background, and minor increases in particulate matter (16% ± 10 % increase in particle number count). The use of far-UVC at minimum intensities required for disinfection, and in conjunction with adequate ventilation rates (e.g. ANSI/ASHRAE recommendations), may allow the reduction of airborne pathogen levels while minimizing the formation of air pollutants in furnished indoor environments.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ultraviolet radiation dosimetry using radiochromic film for extended dose range applications and estimating eye exposure

  Radiation Protection Dosimetry · 2025-12-19

  article

  Radiochromic films are a reliable tool for quantifying ultraviolet exposure dose. When used without modification, these films enable a simple, low-cost measurement of accumulated dose over time which is amenable to personal exposure monitoring. This study presents two methods to expand the utility of these films for dosimetry applications. One approach utilized an ultraviolet radiation attenuator to effectively extend the usable dose range of radiochromic films. The attenuators have the added advantage of obscuring the film from view so the color change of the film due to increasing exposure dose is not visible. The practical use of these films with attenuators over prolonged exposure periods is highlighted as a case study in this manuscript. A second modification is the addition of a structure to limit the dose received by the film to an 80° field of view. Limiting the field of view of the film dosemeter provides for an estimate of the dose received by the eyes, accounting for protection provided by the ocular cavity, and the use of a dosemeter with a restricted field of view is included in recommendations for commissioning of ultraviolet lighting installations. Radiochromic films, when used in conjunction with these tools, offer an effective solution for extended dose ranges and eye-specific ultraviolet dose measurement in indoor spaces utilizing germicidal ultraviolet technologies.

  PublisherDOI

• Experimental analysis to quantify inactivation of microorganisms by Far-UVC irradiation in indoor environments.

  Building and Environment · 2025-02-15 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Anti-Tumor Immunization Efficacy after Particle-Radiation Exposure

  Radiation Research · 2025-06-30 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author

  Particle radiotherapy is successful in treating cancers that are typically refractory to conventional low-LET therapy; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Some suggest that, in addition to local tumor control, particle radiotherapy may induce long-range systemic anti-cancer effects involving the immune system that may be responsible for the overall success of the modality. Using previously published methodology, we have assessed anti-tumor responses in vivo using an immunization model. Comparing the efficacy of tumor cells killed by X rays and high-LET ions to protect against subsequent tumor challenge in mice, we have observed that at equidoses, heavy ions are more effective at generating anti-tumor responses than X rays.

  PublisherDOI

• The Effects of Age on the Human Tear Film Assessed with a Novel Imaging Device

  Diagnostics · 2025-09-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Purpose: We aimed to analyze the effects of age on human tear film (TF) using a novel nanometer resolution TF imaging device (Tear Film Imager, TFI, AdOM, Israel). Methods: 44 healthy adult subjects (≥18 years of age) without ocular or systemic diseases or prior eye treatments with ages spanning seven decades were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. Subjects underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination and completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI). All study participants underwent TF imaging using the TFI, including assessment of muco-aqueous layer thickness (MALT), lipid-layer thickness (LLT), inter-blink interval, and lipid map uniformity. Associations between TFI parameters and age were tested using linear regression (accounting for multiple eyes). Results: A total of 80 eyes (44 subjects) were imaged: 19 eyes from 10 subjects in the 3rd decade of life (aged 20–29); 10 eyes from 5 subjects in the 4th decade of life (aged 30–39); 5 eyes from 3 subjects in the 5th decade of life (40–49); 12 eyes from 7 subjects in the 6th decade of life (50–59), 19 eyes from 11 subjects in the 7th decade of life (60–69); 11 eyes from 6 subjects in the 8th decade of life (70–79); and 4 eyes from 2 subjects in the 9th decade of life (80–89). With increasing age, MALT significantly decreased (p = 0.024), and LLT significantly increased (p = 0.001). No statistically significant linear age effects were found for the other TFI parameters (p &gt; 0.05) or the OSDI scores of study participants of different ages (p = 0.786). Conclusions: Quantitative TF biomarkers varied significantly with advancing age in healthy individuals, highlighting the importance of accounting for age in TF assessments.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Monochromatic 222 nm UV light: Development of a safe, cost-effective technology for the efficient reduction of bacterial and viral infection and transmission

  NIH · $500k · 2016–2021

• NIH Grant R41AI125006

  NIH · $150k · 2017

• NIH Grant P01CA049062

  NIH · $47.1M · 2017

• NIH Grant R23CA041468

  NIH · $179k · 1989

• NIH Grant R01CA077285

  NIH · $426k · 2002

Frequent coauthors

• Igor Shuryak

  Columbia University

  164 shared

• Guy Garty

  Columbia University

  85 shared

• Eric J. Hall

  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  84 shared

• Helen C. Turner

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  64 shared

• Sally A. Amundson

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  59 shared

• Gerhard Randers-Pehrson

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  49 shared

• Albert J. Fornace

  Georgetown University

  47 shared

• Rainer K. Sachs

  University of California, Berkeley

  43 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Public Health

  Columbia University

  1980

• M.S., Radiological Physics

  University of California, Berkeley

  1975

• B.S., Physics

  University of California, Berkeley

  1973

Awards & honors

• Oxford University Weldon Prize for Development of mathematic…
• Radiation Research Society Failla Gold Medal Award (2011)
• Herbert L. Abrams Lecturer, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Bo…
• Douglas Lea Lecturer, UK Radiation Oncology Congress (2009)
• Selby Lecturer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2009…