Laura Vallow, M.D., stands at the forefront of a medical milestone: bringing carbon ion therapy to the United States.
As chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Florida, Dr. Vallow leads a team of physicians, scientists and international collaborators who are advancing research in carbon ion therapy, an advanced cancer treatment that uses high-energy carbon particle beams to precisely target tumors.
“It’s not just another form of radiation,” says Dr. Vallow. “Carbon ions have unique biological properties. Our goal is to unlock that full potential.”
Raised in a small town 35 miles south of Chicago, Dr. Vallow grew up surrounded by family — including 28 cousins, a mom who served as a nurse, an uncle who was the fire chief, and another uncle who was the police chief. Hard work, helping others and service to the community were constant themes.
“There was always this closeness in my family,” she says. “Work and family were intertwined, and they had fun doing it. No one pushed me toward a specific career. Instead, they taught me to find my passion and work hard at it.”
For Dr. Vallow, that passion was science. She attended the University of Illinois where she earned a degree in biochemistry. During her years as an undergraduate student, she joined Argonne National Laboratory, where she worked alongside Ph.D. scientists and presented at national conferences, building the confidence to envision a future in science.
“I realized I could do this — and succeed,” she says. “I was excited for a life of helping and impacting others through science.”
Eager to continue her scientific career, Dr. Vallow entered Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago where radiation oncology quickly captured her interest.
“Radiation oncology has this fascinating technology you get to explore,” she says. “It’s the perfect blend of science, technology and patient care.”
These are diagnoses that too often are a death sentence. Despite decades of work, progress has been limited. Carbon ion therapy gives us a real chance to change that.
— Laura Vallow, M.D.
After completing her residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s University, she joined Mayo Clinic in 2001. Specializing in breast radiation oncology, Dr. Vallow became a leader in clinical trials and advancing innovations to improve outcomes for patients with breast cancer, such as shorter treatment courses and effective positioning for minimal impact on heart and lungs during treatments. In 2021, she became chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology.
“Once I started at Mayo Clinic, I knew that I never wanted to go anywhere else,” she says. “I love the integration of science and patient care. It’s a wonderful thing to take care of patients in this environment where everyone pushes you to be your best.”
Today, Dr. Vallow no longer runs a single lab. Instead, she oversees multiple research efforts, including collaborations with carbon ion centers in Asia and Europe. At the center of her work is Mayo Clinic’s new integrated oncology building — the Duan Family Building — which will house the nation’s first carbon ion treatment facility.
Current radiation therapy applies a one-size-fits-all approach, using general parameters that don’t account for biological differences between tumors and normal cells. Dr. Vallow wants to change that.
“We envision profiling tumors to understand which patients will benefit most, and at which dose,” she says. “That’s how we’ll shatter current limitations to make treatments more personalized — and more powerful.”
Her department is already advancing this vision. One prospective study, led by colleague Bradford Hoppe, M.D., compares outcomes and quality of life for patients with bone sarcoma receiving traditional care at Mayo Clinic versus those treated at international carbon ion centers.
Through studies like this, the team will extend carbon ion benefits to more people with more types of cancer.
Dr. Vallow credits Mayo Clinic’s leadership with taking bold steps to bring carbon ion therapy to the U.S.
“Many institutions have talked about it, but no one has done it,” she says. “Our responsibility is to do this so well and lay out the research so impeccably that others can follow, and together we’ll expand access to carbon ion nationwide.”
Under her leadership, the department is poised to continue to grow as Mayo Clinic opens its doors to patients in need of carbon ion therapy. Dr. Vallow’s vision includes tackling some of the most intractable cancers, such as glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer.
“These are diagnoses that too often are a death sentence,” she says. “Despite decades of work, progress has been limited. Carbon ion therapy gives us a real chance to change that.”
And now, with carbon ion therapy on the horizon, Dr. Vallow’s passion continues to drive her to reshape the future of cancer care.
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