Manuela Buonanno, PhD
- Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at CUMC
Overview
Dr. Manuela Buonanno is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and a faculty member at the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University.
Dr. Buonanno central expertise in the Radiological Sciences was established during her Ph.D. at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA) where she investigated under a NASA-funded study the impact of space radiation quality (LET) and dose in the induction of bystander effects and genomic instability. Dr. Buonanno’s expertise in the biological effects of ionizing radiation then consolidated at Columbia University where she investigated the consequences of microbeam particle radiation in small animal models (i.e., C. elegans, zebrafish embryos, mice).
Other research interests focus on investigating dose-rate effects (FLASH) in cells and 3-D tissue models, and the use of patient-derived organoids as a screening tool for radiation countermeasures.
Dr. Buonanno current line of research include the efficacy and safety of far-UVC (200-235 nm) for prevention of surgical site infections, and for room disinfection from airborne pathogens. Her studies have shown that far-UVC inactivates drug-resistant bacteria and viruses without apparent harm to human skin and eyes. Dr. Buonanno expertise spans from the anti-microbial efficacy of far-UVC as well as its safety for skin and eyes.
Dr. Buonanno is the recipient of the Jack Fowler Award from the Radiation Research Society and the Career Development Award from the Radiation Research Foundation.
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at CUMC
Credentials & Experience
Committees, Societies, Councils
2026-Presnet Associate Editor, Photochemistry and Photobiology
2025-Present Member, Board of Directors of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)
2022-Present Council member, NCRP
2022-Present Consultant, Scientific Advisory Committee for Radiation Research, NASA Space Radiation Laboratories, Brookhaven National Laboratories
2022-Present Member, American Society for Photobiology
2003-Present Member, Radiation Research Society
2018-2021 Columbia University Senator
Honors & Awards
Research
Research Interests:
- Biological effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
- Biological effects of far-UVC light on microbes and human tissues
- FLASH radiotherapy
- Radiation countermeasures
Selected Publications
- Buonanno M., de Toledo S.M., Pain D. and Azzam E.I. (2011). Long-Term Consequences of Radiation-Induced Bystander Effects Depend on Radiation Quality and Dose and Correlate with Oxidative Stress, Radiat Res 175:405-415. PMID: 21319986 PMCID: PMC3106980
- Buonanno M, de Toledo SM, Azzam EI. Increased frequency of spontaneous neoplastic transformation in progeny of bystander cells from cultures exposed to densely ionizing radiation. PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e21540. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021540
- Buonanno M, Gonon G, Pandey BN, Azzam EI. The intercellular communications mediating radiation induced bystander effects and their relevance to environmental, occupational, and therapeutic exposures. Int J Radiat Biol. 2022;1-19. doi:10.1080/09553002. 2022.2078006
- Buonanno M., Garty G., Grad M., Gendrel M., Hobert O., Brenner D.J. Microbeam Irradiation of C. elegans Nematode in Microfluidic Channels Radiat Environ Biophys: Volume 52, Issue 4 (2013), Page 531-537. PMCID: PMC3809145
- Buonanno, M., Randers-Person, G., Smilenov, L.B., Kleiman, N.J., Young, E., Ponnayia, B. and Brenner, D.J. (2015) A Mouse Ear Model for Bystander Studies Induced by Microbeam Irradiation, Radiat Res. 2015 Aug;184(2):219-25. Epub 2015 Jul 24. PMCID: PMC4539936
- Buonanno M, Grilj V, Brenner DJ. Biological effects in normal cells exposed to FLASH dose rate protons. Radiother Oncol. 2019 Oct;139:51-55. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2019.02.009. Epub 2019 Mar 5. PubMed PMID: 30850209; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6728238.
- Buonanno M, Ponnaiya B, Welch D, Stanislauskas M, Randers-Pehrson G, Smilenov L, Lowy FD, Owens DM, Brenner DJ. Germicidal Efficacy and Mammalian Skin Safety of 222-nm UV Light. Radiat Res. 2017 Apr;187(4):483-491. doi: 10.1667/RR0010CC.1. Epub 2017 Feb 22. PMCID: PMC5552051
- Buonanno M, Welch D, Shuryak I, Brenner DJ. Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronaviruses. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 24;10(1):10285. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67211-2. PMCID: PMC7314750.
- Buonanno M, Kleiman NJ, Welch D, Hashmi R, Shuryak I, Brenner DJ. 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room. Sci Rep. 2024 Mar 20;14(1):6722. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-57441-z. PMCID: PMC10954628.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov