Robert T Dess, MD
Radiation Oncology
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5010
Manage Your Profile
About
Dr. Dess is a clinical and translational researcher focused on genitourinary malignancy. He has worked with a global network of collaborators to create novel prognostic models to characterize prostate cancer disease aggressiveness, to identify novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers, to analyze racial outcomes differences and settings in which disparities are minimized, and to advance more convenient forms of treatment including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR). He is interested in maximizing efficacy, minimizing burden, and understanding the long-term toxicity risks of treatment. His work has been published high profile in peer-reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and JAMA Oncology.
Links
Radiation Oncology Homepage Bio Weiser Center for Prostate Care Brighton Center for Specialty Care - Radiation Oncology
Research Overview
His research focuses on prognostic and predictive biomarker development, racial disparities, high-quality care, patient reported outcomes, and long-term toxicities of radiation therapy. Dr. Dess has been recognized for his research accomplishments through his publications in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology and the New England Journal of Medicine. He was the recipient of Radiological Society of North America Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award for his early career achievements
Recent Publications
-
Zilli T, Zaorsky NG, Maitre P, Desai N, Seibert TM, Sun Y, Dess RT, Tree A, Koontz BF. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 2026 May 1; 125 (1): 11 - 14.Journal ArticleMetastasis-directed Therapy in Oligometastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: From Chasing the Last Metastasis to Changing the Game?
DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.10.019 PMID: 42000353 -
Lewicki P, Srivastava A, Jiang R, Johnson A, Ghani K, Ginsburg K, Borza T, Stensland K, Salami SS, Davicioni E, Dunn RL, Daignault-Newton S, Palapattu GS, Spratt DE, Cher M, Schipper M, Dess RT, Morgan TM, Singhal U. JNCI Cancer Spectr, 2026 Apr 24;Journal ArticleUnderstanding randomized controlled trial generalizability through an embedded molecular diagnostics trial.
DOI:10.1093/jncics/pkag040 PMID: 42026952 -
Nguyen L, Song Y, Dornisch A, Baxter M, Barrett T, Dale AM, Harisinghani M, Kamran SC, Liss MA, Dess RT, Margolis DJA, Weinberg EP, Seibert TM. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2026 Mar 1; 216:Journal ArticlePURE-MRI: An international study assessing physician accuracy in delineating the prostate and urethra on prostate MRI
DOI:10.1016/j.radonc.2025.111333 PMID: 41412436 -
Odayar V, Monda S, Yin H, Tucker Gonzalez R, Casas SJ, Hopfensperger K, Kendrick D, Mietzel MA, Mislmani M, Zaki MA, McLaughlin PW, Morgan TM, Jackson WC, Schipper MJ, Heimburger DK, Bryant AK, Pierce LJ, Borza T, Dess RT. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2026 Mar 4; 44 (7_suppl): 336 - 336.Journal ArticlePopulation-level trends in radiation treatment of low-risk prostate cancer.
DOI:10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.336 -
Dess R, Lang J, Beltran H, Sartor O, McKay R. 2026 Feb 6;Presentation"Drugs on the Horizon"
-
Dess R. 2026 Feb 16;Presentation"Physicist / Physician Partnerships"
-
Lane BR, Lewicki P, Noyes SL, Labardee C, Meah S, Daignault-Newton S, Hafron J, Morgan TM, Radhakrishnan A, Dess RT, Montie J, Ghani KR, Ginsburg KB, Borza T. Cancer, 2026 Feb 15; 132 (4):Journal ArticleIncidence and oncologic outcomes of patients with prostate-specific antigen persistence after radical prostatectomy
DOI:10.1002/cncr.70291 PMID: 41645394 -
Dess RT, Spratt DE, Chien J, Aggarwal R. National Geographic, 2026 Jan 23; 1 - 17.Journal ArticleHow breast cancer research is helping prostate cancer patients