- ABOUT ME
- AREAS OF FOCUS
- EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP
- LOCATIONS & HOSPITALS
- NEWS & PUBLICATIONS
I have two goals as a physician scientist: (1) to use all my education, training, and access to technology to empower patients in their fight against cancer; and (2) to continue to learn and investigate so we may develop novel treatments that will end cancer.
Dr. Kristina Young’s PhD training, post-doctoral studies, and independent research program have a strong focus on how a protein called transforming growth factor beta affects tumors and the immune system. Her work has been published in The Lancet Oncology and Nature Communications. Her clinical and research expertise is in immunotherapy and the tumor microenvironment in head and neck, breast, and GI malignancies.
Dr. Young leads the Tumor Microenvironment Lab at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute. Her team studies how cells surrounding a tumor can prevent the immune system from clearing cancer cells that remain after radiation. The lab develops treatments with potential clinical applications and leads several investigator-initiated clinical trials based on its findings. It also identifies biomarkers that help characterize the tumor microenvironment and has published research on multiparametric MRI in rectal cancer. The lab has received competitive funding through an NIH R03 grant and a M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Commercialization Grant to develop a new radiotracer that detects TGFβ in the tumor microenvironment.
Dr. Young loves the Pacific Northwest and enjoys her time outside of work with her husband and sons hiking, biking, and gardening. She will take any opportunity she has to play soccer, read, box, or bake.
Other Activities
Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 2012-Present
Member, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), 2012-Present
Member, Radiation Research Society, 2012-Present
Member, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), 2012-Present
Member, American College of Physicians, 2008-Present
Member, American Medical Association, 2008-Present
Member, American Physician Scientist Association, 2008-Present
Member, Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland, 2008-Present
Member, Oregon Medical Association, 2008-Present
Areas of Focus
Breast Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Head & Neck Cancers
Lung Cancer
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Residency, Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 2015
Internship, Internal Medicine, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, 2011
MD, Oregon Health & Science University, 2010
PhD, Cell & Developmental Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, 2008
BS, Chemical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 2003
BOARD CERTIFICATION
Radiation Oncology
HONORS
Portland Monthly Magazine, “Top Doctors”, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
R01 CA293806 Grant, National Institute of Health, 2025-2030
R03 CA283104 Grant, National Institute of Health, 2024-2026
Commercialization Grant, MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, 2023-2025
Early Career Achievement, Oregon Health & Science University Alumni Association, 2020
Career Catalyst Research Award, Susan G. Komen Foundation, 2019-2022
Translational Scholar, Sidney Kimmel Foundation, 2016-2018
Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2015-2016
Seed Grant, Radiological Society of North America, 2015-2016
RSNA Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award, Oregon Health & Science University Radiation Medicine, 2014
Resident Paper of the Year Finalist, Oregon Health & Science University, 2014
Radiation Oncology Grand Rounds Invited Speaker, Johns Hopkins University, 2014
RSNA Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award, Oregon Health & Science University Radiation Medicine, 2013
Outstanding Medical Student in Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University Radiation Medicine, 2010
Albert M. Kligman Fellowship, Society of Investigative Dermatology, 2007
Locations
Hospitals Served
- Providence Portland Medical Center
- Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
- Providence Milwaukie Hospital
Dr. Kristina Young talks to KGW about breakthroughs in breast cancer research.
PUBLICATIONS
Call for Improved Immune-Sparing Strategies for High-Dose RT for NSCLC, MedPage Today: Medical News and Free CME, July 2019
news