Xiao Liang, Ph.D., DABR
Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Radiation Physics - Pt Care, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2023 | The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, US, Medical Physics, Ph.D |
| 2015 | University of Texas at Dallas, US, Geophysics, M.Sc |
| 2013 | Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, CN, Geophysics, B.Sc |
Postgraduate Training
| 2023-2025 | Medical Physics Resident, Therapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2026 | Texas Medical Board Medical Physicist License |
| 2026 | Diplomate, American Board of Radiology (DABR) |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Medical Physics Resident, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - 2025
Research Assistant, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2016 - 2018
Animal Technician, Animal Resource Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2015 - 2016
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Committee member, GUGYN Physics Section Research committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
JFC Committee Member/ JFC Reseach and publication subcommittee leader, Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2019 - Present | 2019 Best paper, Physics in Medicine and Biology |
| Highest Number of Citations for an Article Published over five-year period, Physics in Medicine & Biology |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2026. Replacing Re-Simulation CT Using Extended–Field-of-View Hypersight CBCT In Gynecologic Cancer for Offline Adaptive Radiotherapy. Poster. AAPM Annual Meeting 2026, US.
- 2026. Multi-Site Validation of a Universal Deep Learning–Based Synthetic CT Model for MR-Only Radiotherapy. Poster. AAPM Annual Meeting 2026, US.
- 2026. Flexible Synthetic CT Generation Using Nnsyn Deep Learning Network with Single- and Multi-Sequence Clinical MRI. Poster. AAPM Annual Meeting 2026, US.
- 2024. Enhanced Decision Making for MR-Guided Prostate Adaptive Therapy: What Is the Main Predictor for Adaptation?. Poster. 2024 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2024. Efficacy of an Adaptive Plan Quality Predictor for Decision Support in Online MR-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy for Prostate Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy. Poster. 2024 Astro Annual Meeting, US.
- 2024. Synthetic CT Generation Using Dixon Sequences for Brain MR-Only Radiotherapy Planning. Poster. 2024 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2024. Quantification of Effects from Adjacent 1.5 T Magnetic Field MR-Linacs on Their Dosimetry and Image Quality. Poster. 2024 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. A Clinical-Friendly Deep Interactive Segmentation Algorithm for Volumetric Image. Poster. 2022 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Segmentation by Test-Time Optimization for CBCT-based Adaptive Radiation Therapy. 2022 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Segmentation of Tumor and Organs at Risk for CBCT-based Online Adaptive Radiotherapy using Recurrent Neural Networks with Multi-Scale Memory. Poster. 2022 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Exploring the combination of deep-learning based direct segmentation and deformable image registration for conebeam CT based auto-segmentation for adaptive radiotherapy. Poster. 2022 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Developing a Head-And-Neck CBCT Segmentation Network From Unlabeled Data Via Domain Adaptation and Self-Training. Poster. 2022 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Region Specific Optimization (RSO)- Based Deep Interactive Registration. Poster. 2022 Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Evaluating a personalized deep-learning-based auto-segmentation method for CBCT-based adaptive radiotherapy. Poster. 2022 Astro Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Segmentation of Targets and Organs at Risk for CBCT-based Online Adaptive Radiotherapy using Recurrent Neural Networks: A Clinical Evaluation. Poster. 2022 Astro Annual Meeting, US.
- 2021. Generalizability issue of deep learning models in medicine and its potential solutions: illustrated with CBCT to CT image conversion. Poster. 2021 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2021. Explainable boosting machine model with a parallel ensemble design predicts local failure for head and neck cancer with clinical, CT, and delta CBCT radiomic features. Poster. 2021 Astro Annual Meeting, US.
- 2021. Segmentation by individualized registration (SIR) for CBCT-based adaptive radiation therapy. Poster. 2021 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2020. Generating synthesized computed tomography (CT) from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) using CycleGAN for adaptive radiation therapy. Invited, US.
- 2020. Generalizability issue of deep learning models in medicine and its potential solutions: illustrated with CBCT to CT image conversion. Poster. 2020 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2019. Evaluation of Synthesized Computed Tomography (sCT) Generated from Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) by Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (CycleGAN). 2019 ICCR Conference, US.
- 2019. Reconstructing CT Images From Cone- Beam CT Projections Using Learned Primal Dual Reconstruction. 2019 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2019. Generating Synthesized Computed Tomography (CT) from Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) using Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (CycleGAN) for Adaptive Radiation Therapy. ICCR Conference, US.
- 2019. Intentional deep overfit learning (IDOL): An application to CBCT-based auto-contouring. 2021 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2019. Intelligent Synthetic CT Generation Based On CBCT Images Via Unsupervised Deep Learning. 2019 AAPM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. Unparied Cone-Beam CT to CT Translation Using Cycle-Consistent Adversarial Networks. AAPM Annual Conference, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - 2029 |
| Title: | Decoding “Luck” in Cervical Cancer Radiation Therapy: A Spatially Explicit Digital Twin Program to Personalize Care and Improve Patient-Specific Outcomes |
| Funding Source: | Internal |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2021 |
| Title: | CT Image Synthesis from CBCT Images with Artifacts and Truncations for Adaptive Re-planning via Deep Learning |
| Funding Source: | Varian Research Grant |
| Role: | Co-I |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Liang, Xiao. Comprehensive evaluation of a deep learning-based synthetic CT model for MR-only radiotherapy across multiple anatomical sites. Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology 39, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42318546.
- Su, S, Gao, S, Liang, X, Mehrens, H, Casey, K, Yu, ZH, Kim, Y, Hassanzadeh, CJ, Tang, C, Tran, P, Schofield, D, Balter, PA, Han, EY. Simulated online adaptive radiotherapy on C-arm linacs: Integrating high resolution cone-beam CT into abdominal stereotactic body radiation therapy. Journal of applied clinical medical physics 27(5), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42120320.
- Li, Y, Liang, X, Xie, J, Deng, J, Lu, W, Zhang, Y. A universal medical imaging modality translation model in brain and head-and-neck radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and Oncology 214, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41365375.
- Deng, J, Liang, X, Iakovenko, V, Meng, B, Wu, J, Lu, W, Hannan, R, Desai, NB, Yang, D, Garant, A, Park, YK, Lin, MH, Jiang, SB, Godley, A. Development and clinical implementation of an MRI-only planning workflow featuring deep learning-based synthetic CT for prostate cancer external beam radiotherapy. Journal of applied clinical medical physics 26(9), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40841175.
- Zhao H, Liang X, Meng B, Dohopolski M, Choi B, Cai B, Lin MH, Bai T, Nguyen D, Jiang S. Progressive auto-segmentation for cone-beam computed tomography-based online adaptive radiotherapy. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol 31:100610, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39132556.
- Balagopal A, Dohopolski M, Suk Kwon Y, Montalvo S, Morgan H, Bai T, Nguyen D, Liang X, Zhong X, Lin MH, Desai N, Jiang S. Deep learning based automatic segmentation of the Internal Pudendal Artery in definitive radiotherapy treatment planning of localized prostate cancer. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol 30:100577, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38707629.
- Li Y, Shao HC, Liang X, Chen L, Li R, Jiang S, Wang J, Zhang Y. Zero-Shot Medical Image Translation via Frequency-Guided Diffusion Models. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 43(3):980-993, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37851552.
- Maniscalco A, Liang X, Lin MH, Jiang S, Nguyen D. Single patient learning for adaptive radiotherapy dose prediction. Med Phys 50(12):7324-7337, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37861055.
- Liang X, Yen A, Bai T, Godley A, Shen C, Wu J, Meng B, Lin MH, Medin P, Yan Y, Owrangi A, Desai N, Hannan R, Garant A, Jiang S, Deng J. Bony structure enhanced synthetic CT generation using Dixon sequences for pelvis MR-only radiotherapy. Med Phys 50(12):7368-7382, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37358195.
- Maniscalco A, Liang X, Lin MH, Jiang S, Nguyen D. Intentional deep overfit learning for patient-specific dose predictions in adaptive radiotherapy. Med Phys 50(9):5354-5363, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37459122.
- Liang X, Chun J, Morgan H, Bai T, Nguyen D, Park J, Jiang S. Segmentation by test-time optimization for CBCT-based adaptive radiation therapy. Med Phys 50(4):1947-1961, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36310403.
- Olberg S, Choi BS, Park I, Liang X, Kim JS, Deng J, Yan Y, Jiang S, Park JC. Ensemble learning and personalized training for the improvement of unsupervised deep learning-based synthetic CT reconstruction. Med Phys 50(3):1436-1449, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36336718.
- Liang X, Morgan H, Bai T, Dohopolski M, Nguyen D, Jiang S. Deep learning based direct segmentation assisted by deformable image registration for cone-beam CT based auto-segmentation for adaptive radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol 68(4), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36657169.
- Morgan HE, Wang K, Dohopolski M, Liang X, Folkert MR, Sher DJ, Wang J. Exploratory ensemble interpretable model for predicting local failure in head and neck cancer: the additive benefit of CT and intra-treatment cone-beam computed tomography features. Quant Imaging Med Surg 11(12):4781-4796, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34888189.
- Morgan HE, Wang K, Dohopolski M, Liang X, Folkert MR, Sher DJ, Wang J. Explainable Boosting Machine Model with a Parallel Ensemble Design Predicts Local Failure for Head and Neck Cancer With Clinical, CT, and Delta CBCT Radiomic Features. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 111(3):e115-e116, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Chen L, Liang X, Shen C, Nguyen D, Jiang S, Wang J. Synthetic CT generation from CBCT images via unsupervised deep learning. Phys Med Biol 66(11), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34061043.
- Chen L, Liang X, Shen C, Jiang S, Wang J. Synthetic CT generation from CBCT images via deep learning. Med Phys 47(3):1115-1125, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31853974.
- Xiao L, Nguyen D, Jiang SB. Generalizability issues with deep learning models in medicine and their potential solutions: illustrated with Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) to Computed Tomography (CT) image conversion. MLST 1, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Xiaoqian J, Wang S, Liang X, Balagopal A, Nguyen D, Yang M, Wang Z, Jim, Ji X, Qian X, Jiang S. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) segmentation by adversarial learning domain adaptation. Springer:567-575, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Liang X, Chen L, Nguyen D, Zhou Z, Gu X, Yang M, Wang J, Jiang S. Generating synthesized computed tomography (CT) from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) using CycleGAN for adaptive radiation therapy. Phys Med Biol 64(12):125002, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31108465.
Abstracts
- Wang S, Maniscalco A, Su FC, Liang X, Washington B, Kabat C, Garant A, Desai NB, Pompos A, Hannan R, Yang DX. Efficacy of an Adaptive Plan Quality Predictor for Decision Support in Online MR-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy for Prostate Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 120(2):E595, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Liang X, Morgan H, Nguyen D, Jiang S. Deep learning based CT-to-CBCT deformable image registration for autosegmentation in head and neck adaptive radiation therapy. JAIMS 2:62-75, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 26, 2026