Dr Gaurav Kumar

Dr Gaurav Kumar is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at James Cook University Hospital, part of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, specialising in the treatment of lung and urological cancers, including prostate and bladder cancer. He provides comprehensive, patient-centred care using a range of advanced treatments, including systemic therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies, alongside modern radiotherapy techniques. He's also the lead for radiotherapy services at the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Kumar has extensive experience in advanced radiotherapy, with particular expertise in stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). He has played a key role in the development of hypofractionated and single-fraction SABR approaches, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to improve access and efficiency of treatment for patients with lung cancer. He is an active member of the stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) group at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and has a strong interest in proton therapy and precision oncology.

He completed over a decade of specialist training in oncology, gaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR), before being appointed as a Consultant Clinical Oncologist in 2016. In 2019, he undertook further specialist training in proton therapy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr Kumar works within a large secondary and tertiary referral centre serving a population of over 1.3 million people, where he delivers both radiotherapy and systemic anti-cancer treatments. He also provides specialist systemic therapy services across three NHS Trusts and sees private patients at several hospitals.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr Kumar holds a number of leadership roles. He is the clinical lead for prostate cancer at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and leads innovative service development projects, including the “EARLY” (Easy Access to Radical Lung cancer chemoradiotherapy) initiative to streamline lung cancer treatment pathways, and “PRISM” (Palliative Radiotherapy In-patient Service Management), improving access to palliative radiotherapy.

Dr Kumar is actively involved in clinical research and is a principal investigator on multiple clinical trials, including KEYNOTE905, GUSTO, SPRUCE and PIVOTAL BOOST. His research focuses on advancing novel cancer treatments and the use of complex radiotherapy techniques to improve patient outcomes.