Academic Title:
Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment:
Radiation Oncology
Location:
MSTF 7-00
Phone (Primary):
410-706-2557
Biosketch
Arezoo Modiri, Ph.D. is a research faculty member in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland. Dr. Modiri received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering. During Ph.D., she studied microwave-based medical diagnosis, specifically, Microwave-Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection. In September 2013, she joined the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for her postdoctoral training. Her postdoctoral research was focused on 4D treatment planning for lung cancer, where she applied a swarm-intelligence-based algorithm to solve the optimization problem. She is now working on extending her treatment plan optimization research to emerging radiotherapy planning techniques.
Highlighted Publications
- E. M. Nichols, A. Modiri, P. Mohindra, "Cardiotoxicity and Radiation Therapy: A Review of Clinical Impact in Breast and Thoracic Malignancies." Appl Rad Oncol. 2020
- L. Rechner*, A. Modiri*, L. Stick, M. Maraldo, M. Aznar, S. Rice, A. Sawant, S. Bentzen, I. Vogelius, L. Specht, "Biological optimization for mediastinal lymphoma radiotherapy – a preliminary study", Accepted to be published in Acta Oncologica, 2020, *Drs. Rechner and Modiri are co-first authors.
- A. Anvari, A. Modiri, R. Pandita, J. Mahmood, A. Sawant, "On-line dose delivery verification in small animal image-guided radiotherapy", Medical Physics, 2020.
- E. Vicente, A. Modiri, K. Yu, H. Wibowo, Y. Yan, R. D. Timmerman, A. Sawant, "Accounting for respiratory motion in small serial structures during radiotherapy planning: proof of concept in virtual bronchoscopy-guided lung functional avoidance radiotherapy", Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2019
- L. B. Stick, I. R. Vogelius, A. Modiri, S. R. Rice, M. V. Maraldo, A. Sawant, S. M. Bentzen, “Inverse radiotherapy planning based on bioeffect modelling for locally advanced left-sided breast cancer Radiotherapy and Oncology”, Radiotherapy and Oncology Green Journal, 2019
- A. Modiri, L.B. Stick, S.R. Rice, L.A. Rechner, I.R. Vogelius, S.M. Bentzen and A. Sawant, “Individualized estimates of overall survival in radiation therapy plan optimization - A concept study,” Medical Physics, 2018
- M. Hamzeei, A. Modiri, N. Kazemzadeh, A. Hagan, and A. Sawant, “Inverse-Planned Deliverable 4D-IMRT for Lung SBRT,” Medical Physics, 2018
- N. Kazemzadeh*, A. Modiri*, S. Samanta, Y. Yan, R. Bland, T. Rozario, H. Wibowo, Ch. Ahn, R. Timmerman, A. Sawant, "Virtual bronchoscopy-guided treatment planning to map and mitigate radiation-induced airway injury in lung SAbR", International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 2018 - *Drs. Kazemzadeh and Modiri are co-first authors.
- A. Hagan; A. Sawant; M. Folkerts; A. Modiri, "Multi-GPU configuration of 4D intensity modulated radiation therapy inverse planning using global optimization," Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2018 - Chosen as a featured article.
- A. Modiri, P. Sabouri, X. Gu, R. Timmerman, A. Sawant, "Inversed-Planned Respiratory Phase Gating in Lung Conformal Radiation Therapy," International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 2017
- A. Modiri, S. Goudreau, A. Rahimi, K. Kiasaleh, "Review of Breast Screening: Towards Clinical Realization of Microwave Imaging," Medical Physics, 2017
- A. Modiri, X. Gu, A. Hagan, R. Bland, P. Iyengar, R. Timmerman, A. Sawant, "Inverse 4D Conformal Planning for Lung SBRT Using Particle Swarm Optimization," Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2016.
- A. Modiri, X. Gu, A. Hagan, A. Sawant, "Radiotherapy Planning Using an Improved Search Strategy in Particle Swarm Optimization," IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2016.
- D. Cao, A. Modiri, G. Sureka, and K. Kiasaleh, "DSP Implementation of the Particle Swarm and Genetic Algorithms for Real-Time Design of Thinned Array Antennas," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 2012.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, "Efficient Design of Microstrip Antennas for SDR Applications Using Modified PSO Algorithm," IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 2011.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, "Modification of Real-Number and Binary PSO Algorithms for Accelerated Convergence," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 2011.
Additional Publication Citations
- A Modiri, A Mendes, S Lam, A Berman, S Feigenberg, A Sawant, “Cardiotoxicity Mitigation in Central Lung Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Using Nonuniform Spatiotemporal Dose Modulation”, AAPM 2019, Med. Phys.
- E Vicente, A Modiri, K Yu, H Wibowo, Y Yan, R Timmerman , A Sawant, “Accounting for Respiration-Induced Motion of Peripheral Airways in Virtual Bronchoscopy-Guided Lung Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy Planning”, AAPM 2019, Med. Phys.
- A Modiri, L Rechner, LB Stick, MV Maraldo, SR Rice, A Sawant, SM Bentzen, I Vogelius, L Specht, “Is Underdosing the Target a Risk Worth Taking? Outcome Risk Modeling in Lymphoma Radiotherapy”, ASTRO 2019, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- L Rechner, A Modiri, LB Stick, MV Maraldo, SR Rice, A Sawant, SM Bentzen, IR Vogelius, “Outcome-optimized radiotherapy planning using risk modeling for lymphoma–a preliminary study”, ESTRO 2019, Radiation & Oncology.
- EM Vicente, A Modiri, J Kipritidis, A Hagan, KC Yu, H Wibowo, Y Yan, RD Timmerman, A Sawant, “Combining Virtual Bronchoscopy with 4DCT-Based Ventilation Mapping to Preserve Serial-and Parallel-Functioning Lung Elements in Lung Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR)”, ASTRO 2019, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- A. Modiri, S.R. Rice, C. Schonewolf, A.T. Berman, S.J. Feigenberg, Ch.B. Simone II, S. Bentzen, A. Sawant, “Modeling Patient-specific Risk Factors for Central Lung Tumor SBRT Planning”, ASTRO 2018, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- A. Modiri, S. Samanta, A. Hagan, T. Rozario, Y. Yan, K. Yu, H. Wibowo, R. Timmerman, A. Sawant, “Patient-Specific Mapping, Modeling and Mitigating Radiation-Induced Airway Injury in Lung SAbR”, AAPM 2018, Med. Phys.
- A. Modiri, S. Rice, C. Schonewolf, A. Berman, S. Feigenberg, C. Simone, S. Bentzen, A. Sawant, “Prospectively Incorporating Patient-Specific Survival Model in Central Lung SBRT Planning”, AAPM 2018, Med. Phys.
- A. Hagan, A. Sawant, A. Modiri, “GPU-Accelerated Optimization of Biologically Effective Dose for Inverse-Planned Nonuniform Spatio-Temporal Fractionation”, AAPM 2018, Med. Phys.
- E. Vicente, A. Modiri, J. Kipritidis, A. Hagan, K. Yu, H. Wibowo, R. Timmerman, A. Sawant, “Integrating Virtual Bronchoscopy with Ventilation Mapping for Preserving Post-Treatment Respiratory Function in Lung Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy”, AAPM 2018, Med. Phys.
- A. Modiri; L.B. Stick, L. Rechner, S.M. Bentzen, I. Vogelius, L. Specht, A. Sawant, "Outcome-Driven Inverse Treatment Planning for Conformal Lymphoma Radiotherapy", AAPM 2017, Med. Phys.
- A. Hagan, A. Sawant, M. Folkerts, M. Svatos, A. Modiri, "GPU-Accelerated Research Eclipse Treatment Planning System for Higher-Dimensional Motion-Adaptive Inverse Treatment Planning", AAPM 2017, Med. Phys.
- A. Modiri, A. Sawant, "Quantification of Dosimetric Error in Real-Time MLC Tracking for Lung SBRT", AAPM 2017, Med. Phys.
- M. Hamzeei, A. Modiri, A. Hagan, N. Kazemzadeh, A. Sawant, "Mixed-Integer Optimization-Based Aperture Sequencing for Deliverable 4D IMRT in Lung SBRT", AAPM 2017, Med. Phys.
- N. Kazemzadeh, A. Modiri, M. Hamzeei, A. Hagan, T. Rozario, Y. Yan, H. Wibowo, J. Yu, R.D. Timmerman, A. Sawant, "Virtual Bronchoscopy-Guided Risk-Management Based Treatment Planning to Mitigate Radiation-Induced Airway Injury in Lung SAbR",AAPM 2017, Med. Phys.
- A. Modiri; L.B. Stick, S.R. Rice, I. Vogelius, S.M. Bentzen, A. Sawant, “Outcome-Driven Inverse Treatment Planning Technique for Conformal Breast Radiotherapy”, ASTRO 2017, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- L.B. Stick, I. Vogelius, A. Modiri, S.R. Rice, A. Sawant, S.M. Bentzen, "Radiation Therapy Planning Using Bioeffect Modeling for Left-Sided Breast Cancer", ASTRO 2017, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- A. Modiri; A. Sawant, “Beam-Specific Optimal Respiratory Phase Gating in Lung Radiotherapy”, ASTRO 2016, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- A. Modiri; A. Sawant, “Variable-Beam Fractionation for SAbR”, AAPM 2016, Med. Phys.
- A. Hagan; A. Modiri; M. Svatos; A. Sawant, “4D IMRT Planning Using An Early Prototype GPU-Enabled Eclipse Workstation”, AAPM 2016, Med. Phys.
- T. Chiu; T. Long; A. Modiri; Z. Tian; A. Sawant; Y. Yan; S. Jiang; X. Gu, “4pi Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy (DCAT) for SBRT”, AAPM 2016, Med. Phys.
- A. Modiri; P. Sabouri; X. Gu; R. Timmerman; A. Sawant, “Swarm Intelligence-Based Personalized Respiratory Gating in Lung SAbR”, AAPM 2016, Med. Phys.
- A. Modiri; X. Gu; A. Hagan; A. Sawant, "Improved swarm intelligence solution in large scale radiation therapy inverse planning," IEEE Great Lakes Biomedical Conference (GLBC), 2015, May 2015.
- A. Modiri; X. GU; A. Hagan; A. Sawant, SU-ET-06: “4D Particle Swarm Optimization to Enable Lung SBRT in Patients with Central And/or Large Tumors.” AAPM 2015, Medical Physics.
- A. Modiri; A. Hagan; X. GU; A. Sawant, SU-ET-500: “Initial Implementation of GPU-Based Particle Swarm Optimization for 4D IMRT Planning in Lung SBRT.” AAPM 2015, Medical Physics.
- A. Sawant; A. Modiri; R. Bland; Y Yan; C. Ahn; R. Timmerman, SU-C-BRA-07: “Virtual Bronchoscopy-Guided IMRT Planning for Mapping and Avoiding Radiation Injury to the Airway Tree in Lung SAbR.” AAPM 2015, Medical Physics.
- M. Folkerts; A. Modiri; B. Ungun; X. Jia; S. Jiang; A. Sawant, SU-C-BRD-02: “Monte Carlo Based VMAT Dose Re-Optimization for Patient Specific Quality Assurance and Failed Plan Recovery Using Re-Weighted Aperture MUs.” AAPM 2015, Medical Physics.
- R. Bland; R. Timmerman; C. Ahn; Y. Yan; A. Modiri; A. Sawant, “Dose Response Relationship for Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiation Therapy Associated Airway Collapse”, ASTRO 2015, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
- A. Modiri, X. Gu, and A. Sawant, TH-A-9A-02: BEST IN PHYSICS (THERAPY)-“4D IMRT Planning Using Highly-Parallelizable Particle Swarm Optimization", AAPM 2014, Medical Physics.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, "Experimental results for a novel microwave radiator structure targeting non-invasive breast cancer detection," Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), 2013 IEEE , pp.203,208, 20-23 Oct. 2013.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, "Non-invasive microwave breast cancer detection - A comparative study," Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), 2013 IEEE, pp.197, 202, 20-23 Oct. 2013.
- A. Modiri, K. Kiasaleh, S. Chandrahas, "Characterizing a proposed sixteen-element array antenna designed for microwave imaging of breast cancer," Radio and Wireless Symposium (RWS), 2013 IEEE , vol., no., pp.265,267, 20-23 Jan. 2013.
- J. Singh, A. Modiri, K. Kiasaleh, "Novel UWB hybrid dipole antenna with quasi-isotropic radiation pattern," Radio and Wireless Symposium (RWS), 2013 IEEE , vol., no., pp.124,126, 20-23 Jan. 2013.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, “A Novel Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Estimating Dielectric Constants of Tissue”, the 34th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society ,EMBC2012, San Diego, 28 Aug.-1 Sep. 2012.
- A. Modiri, K. Kiasaleh, "Improvements on Active Microwave Radiometry for Breast Cancer Detection", Metroplex Day, Annual Conference on Research Opportunities, Arlington, TX, 3 Feb. 2012.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, “Permittivity Estimation for Breast Cancer Detection Using Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm”, 33rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society ,EMBC2011, Boston, 31 Aug.-3 Sep. 2011.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, “Real Time Reconfiguration of Wearable Antennas”, IEEE Topical Conference on Biomedical Wireless Technologies, Networks & Sensing Systems, BioWireleSS 2011, RWW 2011, Phoenix, AZ, 16 - 20 Jan. 2011.
- A. Modiri and K. Kiasaleh, “Efficient Design of Microstrip Antennas for SDR Applications Using Modified PSO Algorithm”, 14th Biennial IEEE Conference on Electromagnetic Field Computation (CEFC), Chicago, IL, 9-12 May 2010
Research Interests
Optimization algorithms
Radiotherapy planning
Biological risks of radiation
Bio-electromagnetics
Microwave imaging
Awards and Affiliations
Summers 2009, 2010, 2011: Research Assistant Graduate Scholarship, University of Texas at Dallas
Spring 2010 – Spring 2012: Teaching Assistant Graduate Scholarship, University of Texas at Dallas
Spring 2012: Teaching Assistant Excellence Award, University of Texas at Dallas
August 2012: Golden Key International Honour Society Nomination, University of Texas at Dallas
May 2013: Travel Grant, Phi-Kappa-Phi Society
May 2014: President David Daniel Fellowship Award, University of Texas at Dallas
July 2014: Best in Physics (Therapy), Abstract – The 56th annual meeting of the AAPM
October 2018: Best in Physics and the Basic/Translational Science Award in the Junior Investigator Radiation Physics category - ASTRO Annual Meeting
April 2019: AAPM Summer School Scholarship on Practical Medical Image Analysis
Grants and Contracts
- Research Seed Grant Award, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, June 2016
- AAPM Science Council Associates Mentorship Program Award, June 2016
Professional Activity
2010: Volunteer Reviewer, IEEE Conference of Electromagnetic Field Computation
5/2011: Volunteer Student, The 8th International Conference on Body Sensor Networks
7/2011-2/2012: Volunteer Researcher, UT Southwestern Medical Center
2012: Volunteer Reviewer, IEEE Transaction on Microwave Theory and Techniques/ Special Issue on Biomedical Applications of RF/Microwave Technologies
2012: Invited Reviewer, ‘Swarm Intelligence for Electric and Electronic Engineering’ Book
2013: Invited Reviewer, IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation Journal
2013: Inventor, Invention Release by University of Texas at Dallas
2013-2015: Volunteer Scientist, The Shoulders of Giants Inc.(TSoG)
2014: Science Fair Judge, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
2015: Board Member, TSoG Inc.
2016: Industry Advisory Board Member, TSoG Inc.
2016: Invited reviewer, International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
2018: Invited reviewer, Journal of Medical Physics
2018: Invited reviewer, Journal of Cancer Management and Research
2019: Invited reviewer, AAPM 2019 Annual Meeting Abstracts
2019: Invited reviewer for AAPM Working Group on SBRT (aka HyTEC)
2019: Joining PENTEC (PEdiatric Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic) as modeler
Links of Interest
http://arezoomodiri.weebly.com/