Stanford Center for Asian Health Research & Education

09/10/2026

Lung cancer is still the deadliest cancer in the U.S. Our co-founder and co-director, Dr. Bryant Lin, has spent his career working to change that. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer himself.

NPR's Yuki Noguchi featured his story this past Saturday on Weekend Edition: how precision therapies matched to a tumor's genetic profile have extended his life and kept his symptoms controlled, why genetic subtyping matters now that targeted drugs exist for roughly two-thirds of cases, and how much ground is left to cover. Five-year survival across all stages remains around 30%. Only 18% of high-risk people get screened.

Dr. Lin’s hope is that if lung cancer can't be cured, it can at least be managed like a chronic disease. He is equally clear about the barriers: therapies that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, insurance hurdles even for a Stanford physician, and a screening toolkit that still depends almost entirely on low-dose CT.

We are grateful to him for sharing this so openly, and for continuing to teach, advocate, and push the field forward.

09/09/2026

Why do never-smoking Asian Americans face roughly double the lung cancer risk of other non-smokers? Most of the literature answers with biology – EGFR mutations, prior infections, or genetic predisposition – but this new paper, “An interview-based study of Asian American non-smoker lung cancer in the United States,” asks what that framing leaves out.

Stanford CARE faculty Dr. Jeffrey Velotta and Dr. Bryant Lin contributed to this interview study. We look forward to seeing what further research develops from these questions on structural contributors to lung cancer risk.

Read the full paper: https://cco.amegroups.org/article/view/158957/html

09/08/2026

Join us in congratulating Dr. Natalie Lui for receiving a multi-year research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her project will develop a molecular imaging agent that will help surgeons locate and completely remove lung tumors during surgery, lowering the risk of complications and recurrence.

Surgery is a critical treatment option for early-stage lung cancer, but small, less dense, or deeply positioned tumors can be difficult to accurately identify. Dr. Lui’s research will work to create a technique that’s more efficient in the operating room and more effective for patients. Read more: https://med.stanford.edu/ctsurgery/about-the-department/news/2026/natalie-lui-receives-grant-to-develop-molecular-imaging-agent-to-identify-lung-cancer-during-surgery.html

Stay tuned for more Asian health research news by following us!

08/31/2026

What is precision health, and why do we keep bringing it up?

Precision health is an innovative approach to healthcare which considers each person’s unique biology and lifestyle when addressing disease.

This means: you’ll learn the latest groundbreaking research affecting Asian populations. You’ll find out how your unique background and circumstances affect what methods of care make the most sense for you, as an individual. And you’ll discover ways that you can apply this knowledge to improve the healthspans of yourself and your loved ones.

Follow along with our experts at Stanford Medicine, the Center for Asian Health Research & Education, and worldwide as we continue to share new findings relevant to you. Check out more on our website: asianhealth.stanford.edu.

08/29/2026

We’re glad to welcome Maisie Fung, MD, to Stanford CARE!

Dr. Fung is a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Stanford’s Vaden Health Center. Her clinical experience spans primary care, urgent care, and college health. She also serves as the Continuing Medical Education Director at the Vaden Health Center Clinical Education Conference and mentors nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians. Her recent work addresses mprovements for clinical efficiencies. Dr. Fung is also Chair Elect of Clinical Medicine at the American College Health Association and has focused on supporting the health and wellbeing of university students.

Learn more about Dr. Fung and her work: https://asianhealth.stanford.edu/people/maisie-fung

08/26/2026

📖 ☀️ Announcing: "Sunshine: An Exploration of Living When You Are Dying"
For over two decades, Dr. Bryant Lin treated many patients with lung cancer. He never smoked — and then received the same diagnosis.
After cycling through grief and two rounds of chemo, he chose to keep teaching, creating a Stanford course about living with a terminal illness as both doctor and patient. The class drew international attention and became his first book, "Sunshine: An Exploration of Living When You Are Dying".
Lung cancer affects many people who have never smoked, including a disproportionate share of Asian patients — a focus of Stanford CARE's mission.
Dr. Lin's journey from physician to patient offers profound insights on mortality, meaning, and the resilience of the human spirit. His story is a testament to finding light even in life's darkest moments.

📖 Pre-order now (on sale November 10, 2026): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/822950/sunshine-by-bryant-lin-md/

08/24/2026

Join us in welcoming Julie J. Lee, MD, MPH, to Stanford CARE!

Dr. Lee is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Clinical Informatics. She works at the intersection of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), and real-world clinical care. As Health Equity Informaticist in Stanford’s Division of Primary Care and Population Health, she works to integrate technologies such as AI, digital health, and remote patient monitoring into clinical care. She is also Clinical Champion for the Stanford Metabolic Health Interventions and Lifestyle Empowerment Support (SMILES) Program. Her clinical practice centers on obesity medicine and cardiometabolic health, and she advocates for precision approaches and health equity to better account for patient diversity.

Learn more about Dr. Lee and her work: https://asianhealth.stanford.edu/people/julie-lee

08/19/2026

स्टैनफ़ोर्ड CARE कम्युनिटी हेल्थ अवेयरनेस टॉक (हिंदी भाषा)
रिकॉर्डिंग अब हमारे चैनल पर उपलब्ध है!
दिल की सेहत, बचपन से, दक्षिण एशियाइयों के लिए यह क्यों ज़रूरी है? (Heart Health from Childhood: Why Early Action Matters for South Asians) with Priyansh Shah, MD
दक्षिण एशियाई समुदायों में हृदय रोग अन्य आबादी की तुलना में तकरीबन 10 साल पहले क्यों होता है — और इसे बचपन से ही कैसे रोका जा सकता है?
इस हृदय स्वास्थ्य शिक्षा वार्ता में, डॉ. प्रियांश शाह — स्टैनफोर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी की "HEART" रिसर्च लैबोरेटरी के शोधकर्ता और विश्व युवा हृदय महासंघ के संस्थापक — उन वैज्ञानिक, आनुवंशिक और सांस्कृतिक कारणों को उजागर करते हैं जो दक्षिण एशियाई लोगों को हृदय रोग के प्रति विशेष रूप से संवेदनशील बनाते हैं।

ENGLISH:
Stanford CARE Monthly Community Health Talk Series (in Hindi)
Recording now available on our channel!
Why does heart disease occur 10 years earlier in South Asian communities compared to other populations—and how can it be prevented from childhood?
In this heart health education talk, Dr. Priyansh Shah—a researcher at Stanford University’s HEART Lab and founder of the World Youth Heart Federation—sheds light on the scientific, genetic, and cultural factors that make South Asians particularly susceptible to heart disease.

डॉ. शाह का भाषण यहाँ देखें (Watch Dr. Shah’s talk here): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIyGZDkGNss

08/19/2026

🎤 Upcoming Community Health Talk: Advancing Gastric Cancer Screening in Asian Health: Current Approaches and Emerging AI Innovations

Gastric cancer remains a major health concern in many Asian populations, where rates are significantly higher than in the general U.S. population. Early detection through appropriate screening can greatly improve outcomes, yet awareness and access to screening remain limited.

Join us for our next Community Health Talk featuring Dr. Yutaka Tomizawa, Stanford CARE Global Faculty member, and Director of the Gastric Cancer Screening and Endoscopic Treatment Program at the University of Washington.

What You'll Learn:

• The importance of gastric cancer screening for high-risk populations
• Current screening approaches and emerging AI innovations
• Risk factors and prevention strategies
• Unique considerations for Asian and Asian American communities
• How advances in endoscopy and AI-driven technologies are improving early detection and outcomes

About Dr. Tomizawa:
Dr. Tomizawa is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Gastric Cancer Screening and Endoscopic Treatment Program at the University of Washington. He completed gastroenterology training in both Japan and the United States and specializes in the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of early gastrointestinal cancers. Having trained with leading experts in Japan, he brings a global perspective to advances in gastric cancer screening, endoscopy, and minimally invasive treatment approaches.

📅 Date: September 22, 2026
🕐 Time: 7:00-8:00 PM PT
💻 Format: Virtual
💰 Cost: Free

Register here: https://stanford.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YdQCNK7aRyahlo7VVKmUMQ #/registration

This program is part of Stanford CARE's Community Health Education Series, focused on advancing health education for Asian and Asian American communities.

08/14/2026

Watch our co-founder and co-director, Dr. Bryant Lin, in this new feature by KTSF Television, which follows him in the second year of his own lung cancer journey. Dr. Lin is continuing in his mission to educate and inspire others by launching Anemos Bio, a startup focused on lung cancer research, writing a book, Sunshine, and bringing together leading researchers through Stanford CARE. Check out this video, where Dr. Lin, Stanford Professor Lei Xing, Invion Chairman & CEO Thian Chew, and others explore how AI could advance precision medicine, accelerate new treatments, and improve outcomes for patients: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgfu4qGyrfw

Stay tuned for more episodes as KTSF explores the future of cancer care and Asian health.

我们的共同创办人暨主任 Dr. Bryant Lin 再度得到 KTSF Television 的专题报道。这支影片聚焦林医生确诊肺癌第二年的历程，以及他如何持续以自身经历投入医疗教育、启发他人并推动改变。

林医生成立了专注于肺癌研究的新创公司 Anemos Bio、撰写新书 Sunshine，并透过 Stanford CARE 汇聚顶尖研究学者，持续推进癌症研究与亚裔健康领域的交流与合作。
在这支影片中，林医生与斯坦福大学教授 Lei Xing、Invion 董事长暨执行长 Thian Chew 等专家，共同探讨人工智能如何推动精准医疗、加速新疗法研发，并改善患者的治疗成效。欢迎观看完整影片，一同探索人工智能、癌症照顾与亚裔健康的未来。

林醫師回來了! 確診末期肺癌第二年, 史丹福醫學院林彥峰醫師 Dr. Bryant Lin 和大家分享近況, 包括新書與新創公司📚...