Professor at University of California, Los Angeles, United
Dan Ruan, Ph.D., is a renowned medical physicist and academician whose career is marked by innovative contributions to radiation oncology, medical imaging, and computational modeling. With a foundation in electrical engineering and mathematics, he has built a reputation for advancing image-guided radiotherapy techniques, adaptive motion management, and AI-driven medical imaging analysis. He currently serves as a Professor-in-Residence at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he has spent over a decade shaping the field through research, teaching, and mentorship. His extensive involvement in scientific societies, editorial boards, and review panels highlights his leadership in both research and academic communities.
Profile
Scopus
Education
Dr. Ruan began his academic journey at Wuhan University, where he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2001. He then pursued graduate studies at Boston University, receiving an M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2004. Simultaneously, he expanded his mathematical expertise, earning both an M.S. in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2008. This multidisciplinary training equipped him with the analytical tools necessary to develop cutting-edge methodologies in image processing, radiation therapy optimization, and biomedical imaging.
Experience
Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Ruan held an instructor position at Stanford University from 2008 to 2010. He joined UCLA in 2010 as an Assistant Professor-in-Residence and has steadily risen through the academic ranks, becoming an Associate Professor in 2017 and a full Professor in 2024. His professional experience includes key roles in research and teaching, spanning medical physics, image-guided therapy, and biomedical engineering. He has been instrumental in guiding numerous doctoral candidates and has played vital roles in several faculty search committees, admission boards, and institutional committees.
Research Interest
Dr. Ruan’s research interests lie at the intersection of medical physics, optimization theory, and machine learning. He is particularly focused on motion-adaptive radiotherapy, MRI-guided radiation therapy, deformable image registration, and multi-modal imaging integration. He has led several NIH and industry-funded projects aimed at improving treatment precision and efficiency through adaptive planning, 4D imaging, and predictive modeling. His projects often involve collaborative, cross-disciplinary work, drawing from engineering, data science, and clinical oncology to address challenges in cancer treatment and surgical planning.
Award
Throughout his career, Dr. Ruan has been recognized for his scholarly excellence and innovative research. Notable accolades include the International Student Fellowship (2005), the AAPM Young Investigator Award (2005), the Barbour Fellowship (2007), and the ASTRO Basic Science Research Award (2009). He was also honored as an AAPM Fellow in 2022, a recognition of his sustained contributions to the field of medical physics. His awards reflect not only academic merit but also a commitment to translational research that impacts clinical outcomes.
Publication
Dr. Ruan has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers, with several landmark publications shaping current practices in medical imaging and radiotherapy. Selected key publications include:
Ruan D, Keall PJ, Low DA. “Image-guided adaptive radiation therapy: A mathematical optimization perspective,” Medical Physics, 2009; cited by 345 articles.
Ruan D, Fessler JA, Balter JM. “Real-time image reconstruction for MRI-guided radiotherapy using low-rank matrix approximation,” IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, 2010; cited by 281 articles.
Ruan D et al. “Deformable registration using intensity and feature matching with adaptive regularization,” Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2011; cited by 192 articles.
Ruan D, Sawant A. “Personalized motion modeling for stereotactic body radiation therapy,” International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 2014; cited by 154 articles.
Ruan D, Low DA. “Four-dimensional dose calculation for respiratory motion management,” Medical Physics, 2015; cited by 117 articles.
Ruan D, St. John M. “DOCI-guided intraoperative parathyroid localization using optical imaging,” Frontiers in Oncology, 2019; cited by 89 articles.
Ruan D, Fan Y. “Multi-task MRI for abdominal organ segmentation: A deep learning approach,” IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 2022; cited by 68 articles.
Conclusion
Dr. Dan Ruan’s career exemplifies the integration of engineering, clinical insight, and computational science to address critical challenges in medical imaging and radiation oncology. As a prolific researcher, dedicated mentor, and influential thought leader, he has significantly advanced the field through high-impact publications, innovative methodologies, and collaborative projects. His sustained efforts in translational research continue to push the boundaries of precision medicine, ensuring improved diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes for patients. His legacy is reflected in both the technologies he has helped develop and the professionals he has mentored, establishing him as a pillar of academic and clinical excellence in medical physics.