Chief Emeritus, Photodynamic Therapy Center
Professor of Oncology
Cell Stress Biology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Roswell Park Graduate Division, University at Buffalo
Research Professor of Radiation Oncology with a joint appointment Division of Surgery, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

President & Research Director, The Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo
Dr. Thomas J. Dougherty joined the staff of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in 1970, as a Research Associate in the Department of Experimental Biology. The following year, he was appointed Cancer Research Scientist and Head of Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Medicine, and was appointed Chief, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Center, 1988. He also is a Research Professor, Molecular & Cellular Biophysics, Roswell Park Graduate Division, University at Buffalo (UB), Research Professor of Radiation Oncology, UB School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and President & Research Director, The Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo. Dr. Dougherty earned his doctoral degree in Physical Organic Chemistry at Ohio State University, Columbus, in 1959.

Dr. Dougherty was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Photodynamics.

Dr Dougherty’s research interests focus on basic and clinical research in photodynamic therapy (PDT), which he developed at RPCI and is now approved by health agencies worldwide for the treatment of bladder, esophageal and lung cancers. Current research interests include clinical trials of a newly developed drug for PDT; quantitative studies to allow rational design of new photosensitizing drugs; Photofrin®-mediated PDT as an adjuvant to neurosurgery in an attempt to destroy tumor cells beyond the margin of surgical resection; parabolic quantitative structure-activity relationships and PDT; and purpurinimides as photosensitizers.

Dr. Dougherty is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, American Chemical Society, American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, American Society for Photobiology, European Society for Photobiology, International Photodynamic Association, and Radiation Research Society. Dr Dougherty has authored or co-authored more than 200 journal publications, book chapters and abstracts, and holds 25 patents. He is Assistant Editor of International Photodynamics and serves on the editorial boards of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine and the Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine & Surgery. He is a reviewer for the British Journal of Cancer, Cancer Research, European Journal of Cancer, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Journal of Surgical Oncology, New England Journal of Medicine, and Photochemistry and Photobiology. Dr. Dougherty also is a grant reviewer for the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and the Swiss National Science Foundation. Dr. Dougherty’s work has been the subject of several newspaper articles and television news programs, as well as a 30-minute special on CBS describing his trip to China in 1983 to lecture on photodynamic therapy.

Dr. Dougherty has received numerous awards and honors including the following:

2008: Dougherty Award for Excellence in Photodynamic Therapy, Society of Porphyrin and Phthalocyanines; 2006: Recipient of the Western New York Pioneers of Science Award honoring excellence Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute; 2002: Recipient of Tabushi Award for Distinguished Career Contributions in the Field of Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine Chemistry, presented at the Second International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (ICPP-2), Kyoto, Japan; 2001: Lifetime Achievement Award, American Society for Photobiology; 2000; Thomas B. Tomasi Achievement Award, Roswell Park Alliance; 1997: D'Youville College (Buffalo, NY) Award for Achievement in Health Care; 1996: Inventor of the Year Award for 1995 (1st place), sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Intellectual Property Law Association and the Technical Societies Council, for a new photodynamic therapy agent; 1995: Joseph Sullivant Medal, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; 1993-1994: Board of Regents (member) , Canisius College, Buffalo, New York; 1992: Leon Goldman Medical Excellence Award for contributions to the field of cancer research and therapy, The Laser Centers of America; 1991; Doctor of Humane Letters (Hon.), Canisius College, Buffalo, NY; 1990-1996; Advisory Board, Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio; 1990: Gursavus John Esselenn Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest, Northeastern Section, American Chemical Society; 1990: Chairman, 3rd Biennial Meeting  of the International Photodynamic Association, Buffalo, New York; 1988; Schoellkopf Award, American Chemical Society, Western New York Chapter; 1988: Inventor of the Year Award (dihematoporphyrin ethers), Western New York Patent Attorney Association; 1987: American Society for Photobiology Research Award; 1985: distinguished Alumni Award, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York; 1985: Editorial Board, Lasers in Medical Science; 1984: Laser Focus Technical Achievement Award. Laser Focus/Electron Optics Magazine: 1982: A. Ward Ford Medal, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery; 1982: James H. Crowdle Award, Canisius College. Awarded for development of photoradiation therapy to treat cancer; 1981: Benjamin Franklin Award, Benjamin Franklin Society. Awarded in recognition of leadership and meritorious service rendered to mankind for the betterment of health.