UCI Health appoints neuro-oncologist Dr. Frances Chow to lead the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program

Brain tumor specialist is also named chief of the UC Irvine School of Medicine Division of Neuro-oncology

Orange, Calif. —  UCI Health and the UC Irvine School of Medicine are proud to announce the appointment of Frances E. Chow, MD, MS, as medical director of the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program.

Chow also joins the Department of Neurology as an associate professor and chief of the Division of Neuro-oncology.

The appointments come at a pivotal time as UCI Health — which has long been at the forefront of advancing treatments for glioblastoma and other brain neoplasms — is expanding its neuroscience and cancer programs at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A physician-scientist and clinical trial leader, Chow will drive the next phase of strategic growth by expanding innovative clinical care, translational research, precision medicine and multidisciplinary partnerships to further strengthen UCI Health as a national leader in brain tumor care and research.

'Transformational leader'

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Dr. Chow,” said Dr. Claire Henchcliffe, chair of the Department of Neurology. “She will be a transformational leader, building on a strong platform at UCI Health of the highest quality patient care and research, and developing the next generation of neuro-oncology specialists. Her visionary approach will not only lead our neuro-oncology program to new heights but also provide our patients with the most advanced, personalized care.”

Chow comes to UCI Health from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where she served as a neuro-oncologist at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She developed one of Southern California’s fastest-growing portfolios of clinical trials, expanding patient access to innovative therapies.

As a principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, she has played a key role in developing early-phase clinical trials to advance novel therapies while leading translational research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is focused on overcoming glioblastoma treatment resistance.

She earned her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed a residency in neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where she served as chief resident at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. She completed fellowship training in neuro-oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

A homecoming

Her current appointment is a homecoming for Chow, who completed an internship in internal medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

"Joining UCI Health is both professionally inspiring and personally meaningful,” Chow said. “Returning to the institution where I trained offers the opportunity to build something extraordinary. UCI Health combines world-class neurosciences and an exceptional comprehensive cancer center that is located in one of the nation’s most diverse communities. Together, these strengths position us to redefine what is possible in comprehensive brain tumor care through partnership, innovation and excellence.”

Chow’s research investigates interactions between brain tumors, the immune system and the tumor microenvironment. In particular, she is focused on epigenetic biomarker development to predict sensitivity to immunotherapy. Her research has been supported by the NIH, the American Cancer Society, the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation as well as philanthropic funding.

"We're entering an extraordinary era in neuro-oncology," Chow said.

"Advances in cell therapy, gene therapy, precision oncology and artificial intelligence are fundamentally transforming how we diagnose and treat brain tumors. Our unique strengths — having Orange County’s only academic cell and gene therapy manufacturing facility and being a leader in computational informatics — position us to bring tomorrow’s therapies to patients today."

Improving patient outcomes

Chow shares a vision to build UCI Health as the premier destination for brain tumor care and research in Southern California, where expertise, discovery and compassionate care come together to improve outcomes for patients.

Her goals include:

• Delivering exceptional multidisciplinary, patient-centered care
• Accelerating discoveries into cures through translational science
• Expanding access to innovative trials and precision medicine
• Harnessing technologies including AI, genomics and cell therapy
• Building trusted partnerships across academia, industry and our community
• Cultivating the next generation of physician-scientists and clinical leaders

"The greatest measure of a brain tumor program is not only the discoveries it makes, but the lives it changes," Chow said. "At UCI Health, we have an extraordinary opportunity to unite compassionate care, scientific discovery and innovation so that every patient and family knows they are never facing this journey alone."

To learn more about the UCI Health Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program or schedule an appointment, call 714-456-8000.