About Us

Greetings from the Director

Dr. Brenner headshot

Welcome to the website for the Center for Radiological Research. For almost 100 years the Center has been at the forefront of research into the uses and biological effects of ionizing radiation. Our internationally renowned scientists have provided insight, training and guidance to researchers, physicians and government officials for generations - all for the health and safety of the public.

The Center’s primary research mission is threefold:

  1. To advance our knowledge about the effects of radiation exposure in living tissue, including its underlying biological and biophysical mechanisms,
  2. To provide the scientific basis and principles underlying the clinical use of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of human disease; and
  3. To enhance national security by developing innovative rapid screening methods for assessing radiation exposure in large numbers of individuals in the event of an accidental or terrorist radiological emergency.

The Center's leading-edge research combined with our expertise in the design and construction of experimental instruments has led to many innovations and major breakthroughs. Most notable among these has been the development of the microbeam for delivery of radiation into single cells, which has a variety of therapeutic applications.

In addition to these critical areas, the Center also provides state of the art graduate training to produce the next generation of experts in radiobiology, educating them in the latest approaches and developments in cellular and molecular biology and biophysics. As part of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, we help train medical residents in radiology and radiation oncology. As one of the world’s foremost institutions for radiation research, the Center serves as a fundamental resource for researchers and clinicians from around the world.

We invite you to explore our website and learn more about the trailblazing work of our world-renowned faculty and talented research and administrative staff. We are proud of their accomplishments and their broad range of research and clinical interests.

On behalf of the Center for Radiological Research, thank you for your interest!

Our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Center for Radiological Research (CRR) is to be on the forefront of radiological science and its applications in clinical medicine, public health, and national defense.

Feel free to contact us at 212-305-5660 with any questions.