Research Summary

Dr. Kavita K. Mishra is an internationally renowned expert radiation oncologist focused on the treatment of uveal melanomas with proton beam radiotherapy as well as plaque brachytherapy. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at Harvard University, followed by her medical degree at the UCSF School of Medicine. She then completed a masters degree at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Mishra finished her residency in radiation oncology at the UCSF Medical Center and thereafter joined the faculty at UCSF.

Dr. Mishra specializes in the use of proton beam radiation and plaque brachytherapy to treat malignant and benign conditions of the eye. Dr. Mishra believes in a multidisciplinary approach to ocular oncology care with the aim to provide the most efficacious and individualized therapy for her patients. She is active in the national and international ocular oncology community, is the Co-Chair of PTCOG Ocular (Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group) - the largest collection of proton beam ocular radiation therapy institutions, and has multiple significant research publications and oral presentations globally in her areas of expertise.

Her current research protocols are focused on the clinical outcomes of uveal melanoma patients, particularly with respect to tumor control, preservation of the eye, and quality of life issues. She hopes to continue using a unified, team-oriented approach to maintain excellent outcomes for patients undergoing modern proton beam, plaque therapy, and external beam radiation techniques for ocular malignancies.

Research Funding

  • May 17, 2025 - May 17, 2025 - Millimeter scale particle dosimeter for cancer radiotherapy , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • May 17, 2025 - May 17, 2025 - Long-Term Investigation of Proton Beam Radiation Therapy, Helium Ion, and Plaque Therapy Techniques for Treatment of Uveal Melanoma and Other Ocular Tumors , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:

Education

Residency, 2008 - Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco
M.P.H., 2003 - Masters in Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health
M.D., 2002 - Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
A.B., 1998 - Biology, Harvard University

Honors & Awards

  • Faculty Scholar, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 2020
  • Highest ranked scientific abstract, Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group, 2015
  • RSNA Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award, University of California San Francisco, 2008
  • Class Speaker, UCSF School of Medicine Commencement, University of California San Francisco, 2002
  • Rainer Scholarship for International Health Research, University of California San Francisco, 1999
  • Harvard College Scholar, Dean's List, Harvard University, 1998
  • First Class Marshal, Harvard Class of 1998, Harvard University, 1998

Selected Publications

  1. Baniel CC, Sabol RA, Nieto R, Scholey J, Witztum A, Chuter R, Pollom E, Gandhi S, Wang K, Mishra KK, Lichter KE, Park C. Green Horizons in Oncology: A Blueprint for Environmentally Sustainable Radiation Therapy Facilities. Semin Radiat Oncol. 2024 Oct; 34(4):426-432.  View on PubMed
  2. Hrbacek J, Kacperek A, Beenakker JM, Mortimer L, Denker A, Mazal A, Shih HA, Dendale R, Slopsema R, Heufelder J, Mishra KK. PTCOG Ocular Statement: Expert Summary of Current Practices and Future Developments in Ocular Proton Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2024 Dec 01; 120(5):1307-1325.  View on PubMed
  3. Mishra KK, Leung IC, Chao MT, Thompson-Lastad A, Pollak C, Dhruva A, Hartogensis W, Lister M, Cheng SW, Atreya CE. Mindfulness-Based Group Medical Visits: Strategies to Improve Equitable Access and Inclusion for Diverse Patients in Cancer Treatment. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2024 Jan-Dec; 13:27536130241263486.  View on PubMed
  4. Victorson D, Mishra KK, Sauer J, Langford G, Maletich C, Horowitz B, Sauer C, Sejpal SV, Kalapurakal J. Implementation Readiness and Initial Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Audio Intervention Compared With a Brief Music Control During Daily Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Study. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2024 Jan-Dec; 13:27536130241249140.  View on PubMed
  5. Ferrando C, Tucker L, Harroche J, Mishra K, Knoepp LR, Grimes CL. Gender Affirmation: Individual writing group members are noted in the Acknowledgment section.The following position statement is meant to iterate our support for gender inclusion of both patients and health care providers. Our goal in writing this document is to be as all-encompassing as possible. Acknowledging the plethora and range of gender-related terminology, we will use "transgender and gender diverse." Urogynecology (Phila). 2022 11 01; 28(11):735-737.  View on PubMed
  6. Mishra KK, Victorson D, Mehta DH, Vago DR. Personalized Mind-Body Medicine in Integrative Oncology: Meeting the Moment with Each Patient. J Integr Complement Med. 2022 06; 28(6):457-462.  View on PubMed
  7. Lee K, Scholey J, Norman EB, Daftari IK, Mishra KK, Faddegon BA, Maharbiz MM, Anwar M. A Millimeter-scale Single Charged Particle Dosimeter for Cancer Radiotherapy. IEEE J Solid-State Circuits. 2020 Nov; 55(11):2947-2958.  View on PubMed
  8. Mishra KK, Scholey JE, Daftari IK, Afshar A, Tsai T, Park S, Quivey JM, Char DH. Oral isotretinoin and topical retinoid use in a series of young patients with ocular melanoma. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2020 Sep; 19:100787.  View on PubMed
  9. Mishra KK, Afshar A, Thariat J, Shih HA, Scholey JE, Daftari IK, Kacperek A, Pica A, Hrbacek J, Dendale R, Mazal A, Heufelder J, Char DH, Sauerwein WAG, Weber DC, Damato BE. Practice Considerations for Proton Beam Radiation Therapy of Uveal Melanoma During the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic: Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group Ocular Experience. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2020 Jul-Aug; 5(4):682-686.  View on PubMed
  10. Mukkamala LK, Mishra K, Daftari I, Moshiri A, Park SS. Phase I/II randomized study of proton beam with anti-VEGF for exudative age-related macular degeneration: long-term results. Eye (Lond). 2020 12; 34(12):2271-2279.  View on PubMed
  11. Lu JE, Welch RJ, Mishra KK, Daftari IK, Park SS. Ultrasonography and transillumination for uveal melanoma localisation in proton beam treatment planning. Eye (Lond). 2019 12; 33(12):1904-1910.  View on PubMed
  12. Haas-Kogan D, Indelicato D, Paganetti H, Esiashvili N, Mahajan A, Yock T, Flampouri S, MacDonald S, Fouladi M, Stephen K, Kalapurakal J, Terezakis S, Kooy H, Grosshans D, Makrigiorgos M, Mishra K, Poussaint TY, Cohen K, Fitzgerald T, Gondi V, Liu A, Michalski J, Mirkovic D, Mohan R, Perkins S, Wong K, Vikram B, Buchsbaum J, Kun L. National Cancer Institute Workshop on Proton Therapy for Children: Considerations Regarding Brainstem Injury. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2018 05 01; 101(1):152-168.  View on PubMed
  13. Daftari IK, Quivey JM, Chang JS, Mishra KK. Technical Note: Feasibility study of titanium markers in choroidal melanoma localization for proton beam radiation therapy. Med Phys. 2018 Mar; 45(3):1036-1039.  View on PubMed
  14. Von Bargen EC, Grimes CL, Mishra K, Wang R, Haviland MJ, Hacker MR, Carnevale JA, Estes AJ, Elkadry EA. Prevalence of occult pre-malignant or malignant pathology at the time of uterine morcellation for benign disease. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017 May; 137(2):123-128.  View on PubMed
  15. Osmanovic S, Moisseiev E, Mishra KK, Daftari I, Moshiri A, Morse L, Park SS. Phase I/II Randomized Study of Proton Beam with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor for Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: One-Year Results. Ophthalmol Retina. 2017 May - Jun; 1(3):217-226.  View on PubMed
  16. Polishchuk AL, Mishra KK, Weinberg V, Daftari IK, Nguyen JM, Cole TB, Quivey JM, Phillips TL, Char DH. Temporal Evolution and Dose-Volume Histogram Predictors of Visual Acuity After Proton Beam Radiation Therapy of Uveal Melanoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 01 01; 97(1):91-97.  View on PubMed
  17. Mishra KK, Daftari IK. Proton therapy for the management of uveal melanoma and other ocular tumors. Chin Clin Oncol. 2016 Aug; 5(4):50.  View on PubMed
  18. Mishra KK, Chiu-Tsao ST, Orton CG. Point/Counterpoint. Particle therapy is ideal for the treatment of ocular melanomas. Med Phys. 2016 Feb; 43(2):631-4.  View on PubMed
  19. Hrbacek J, Mishra KK, Kacperek A, Dendale R, Nauraye C, Auger M, Herault J, Daftari IK, Trofimov AV, Shih HA, Chen YE, Denker A, Heufelder J, Horwacik T, Swakon J, Hoehr C, Duzenli C, Pica A, Goudjil F, Mazal A, Thariat J, Weber DC. Practice Patterns Analysis of Ocular Proton Therapy Centers: The International OPTIC Survey. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2016 May 01; 95(1):336-343.  View on PubMed
  20. Roach M, Schulte R, Mishra K, Faddegon B, Barani I, Lazar A, Blakely EA. New Clinical and Research Programs in Particle Beam Radiation Therapy: The University of California San Francisco Perspective. Int J Part Ther. 2016; 2(3):471-473.  View on PubMed

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