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Gilmer Valdes, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Division of Physics
Department of Radiation Oncology

Chess player, climber, chill

Meet Dr. Valdes

For my clinical work, I love to help people in need. One of my biggest pleasure in life is to think that we might have put a smile on a whole family by curing a patient. In my research, I just love to understand ideas and their connection.

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After completing doctoral training in medical physics, I completed a fellowship and clinical residency in Therapeutic Medical Physics. My work during my early training focused on development of machine learning algorithms and advanced modeling to predict patient outcomes and tailor treatments based on the type and quality of data available (particularly for prostate cancer patients), and more recently, on development of methods that permit inspection and interpretation of machine learning models (MediBoost, The Additive Tree, Expert Augmented Machine Learning). Since joining the UCSF faculty, I have worked to develop machine learning algorithms tailored to medicine. I was fortunate to have recently been awarded an NLM K08 to support my work to develop accurate and interpretable machine learning algorithms and apply them in a range of clinical situations. This work is going to be the focus of my career.

Education

2001-2005	University of Havana	BS
2005-2007	University of Havana	MS	Radiochemistry
2007-2013	University of California, Los Angeles	PhD	Biomedical Physics
2014-2016	University of Pennsylvania	Therapeutic Medical Physics Resident	Radiation Oncology

Professional Experience

2016-present	University of California, San Francisco	Assistant Clinical Professor	Radiation Oncology
2013-2014	University of California, San Francisco	Postdoctoral Fellow	Radiation Oncology

Awards & Honors

2006	Suma Cum Laude, Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technologies (InSTEC)
2009	Nomination to the Best Young Researcher Award, Cuban Academy of Science
2010	Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship, University of California
2012	Best Oral Presentation, Biomedical Physics Symposium, University of California
2012	Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, NIH
2013	First Place, Best Graduate Student Norm Baily Award, AAPM Southern California Chapter
2015	First Place, Young Investigator Award, AAPM Delaware Chapter

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Valdes+G&cauthor_id=31527280

Recent Significant Publications

G. Valdes, J M Lunas, Earic Eaton, C B Simone, Lyle H Ungar and T D Solberg. “MediBoost: a Patient Stratification Tool for Interpretable Decision Making in the Era of Precision Medicine.” Scientific Reports 6. Article Number: 37854. November 2016.

G. Valdes, T.D. Solberg, M. Heskel, L.H. Ungar,, C.B. Simone. “Using machine learning to predict radiation pneumonitis in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy.” PMB, Volume 61, N 16. 2016.

G. Valdes, R. Scheuermann, M. Bellerive, A. Olszanski, C. Hung, T. D. Solberg. A mathematical framework for virtual IMRT QA using machine learning.. Accepted for publication at Medical Physics. June 2016.

G. Valdes, O. Morin, Y. Valenciaga, N. Kirby, J. Pouliot, C. Chuang “Use of True Beam developer mode for Imaging QA.” J Appl Clin Med Phys, 6(4):322-333, 2015.

M. Takahashi*, G. Valdes*, K. Hiraoka, A. Inagaki, S. Kamijima, E. Micewicz, H.E. Gruber, J.M. Robbins, D.J. Jolly, W.H. McBride, K.S. Iwamoto, N. Kasahara . “Radiosensitization of gliomas by intracellular generation of 5-fluorouracil potentiates prodrug activator gene therapy with a retroviral replicating vector. Cancer Gene Therapy. (10):405-10, 2014 *Co-first authors

G. Valdes, C. Robinson, P. Lee, D. Low, K Iwamoto, J. Lamb.Tumor control probability and the utility of 4D vs 3D dose calculations for stereotactic body radiotherapy for lung cancer. Med Dosim, 40(1):64-9, 2014.

G Valdes, R. Schulte, M Ostermeier, K S Iwamoto. “The High-affinity Maltose Switch MBP317-347 has Low Affinity for Glucose: Implications for Targeting Tumors with Metabolically-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy.” Chem Biol & Drug Design. 83(3):266-71, 2014. (COVER OF MARCH ISSUE).

G Valdes and K.S. Iwamoto. Re-evaluation of cellular radiosensitization by 5- fluorouracil: High-dose, pulsed administration is effective and preferable to conventional low-dose, chronic administration”. Int J Radiat Biol. 89(10):851-62, 2013.

G. Valdés-Díaz, S. Rodríguez-Calvo, M. Rapado-Paneque, A. Pérez-Gramatges, F. A. Fernández, E. Frota, C. Ribeiro. Effects of gamma radiation on phase behaviour and critical micelle concentration of Triton X-100 aqueous solutions.J Colloid and Interface Science 311:253-261,2007.