Brian Na, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Neurological Surgery
School of Medicine

Dr. Na is a pediatric and adult neuro-oncologist at the UCSF Brain Tumor Center where he cares for patients with brain and spinal cord tumors of all ages. He has a particular focus on Neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis, as well as Adolescent and Young Adults.

Show full bio (170 words) Hide full bio

Prior to joining UCSF, he served as the sole pediatric neuro-oncologist for the UCLA Brain Tumor Center. During his tenure, he successfully re-integrated the multidisciplinary service line, resulting in a 200% increase in new patient referrals over three years. He also established a Pediatric NF Clinic within the UCLA Pediatric Cancer Predisposition Program and the Comprehensive NF/SWN Program. Inspired by his patients and a desire to better understand tumor biology, he pursued further training, completing an adult neuro-oncology clinical fellowship and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, where he focused on Rhabdoid Tumor Predisposition Syndrome Type 1 (RTPS-1) and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1).

An East Coast native, Dr. Na earned his bachelor's degree in History and Science from Harvard College and his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, followed by fellowships in pediatric hematology/oncology and adult neuro-oncology at UCLA, where he also obtained a Ph.D. in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology.

Education & Training

Show all (6) Hide

• Adult Neuro-Oncology UCLA Medical Center 06/2024
• Ph.D. Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California, Los Angeles 06/2024
• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital 06/2021
• Pediatrics Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital 06/2018
• M.D. Medicine Drexel University College of Medicine 05/2015
• A.B. History and Science Harvard University 06/2009

Publications (8)

Top publication keywords:
Nervous System NeoplasmsOptic Nerve GliomaTuberous SclerosisAstrocytomaFibronectinsMolecular Targeted TherapyGenetic TestingSyndromeras ProteinsOptic Nerve NeoplasmsCraniofacial DysostosisVisual PathwaysNeurofibromatosis 1Neurofibromin 1Lectins

• Correction to: Past, Present, and Future Therapeutic Strategies for NF‑1‑Associated Tumors.
  Current oncology reports 2024 Na B, Shah SR, Vasudevan HN
• Cold Atmospheric Plasma Induces Growth Arrest and Apoptosis in Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Associated Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells.
  Biomedicines 2024 Na B, Haist B, Shah SR, Sabiston G, Jonas SJ, Vitte J, Wirz RE, Giovannini M
• Past, Present, and Future Therapeutic Strategies for NF-1-Associated Tumors.
  Current oncology reports 2024 Na B, Shah SR, Vasudevan HN
• Cancer Predisposition Syndromes in Neuro-oncology.
  Seminars in neurology 2023 Na B, Shah S, Nghiemphu PL
• An unusual presentation of bilateral optic pathway glioma in Crouzon Syndrome.
  Pediatric hematology and oncology 2023 Na B, Wang AC, Watterson CT, Martinez-Agosto J, Saitta S, Dutra-Clarke M, Bhansali F, Pineles SL, Chang VY, Shah VS, de Blank P
• Pediatric Gliomas: Molecular Landscape and Emerging Targets.
  Neurosurgery clinics of North America 2021 Peeters SM, Muftuoglu Y, Na B, Daniels DJ, Wang AC
• Lessons and Challenges from a 6-Month Randomized Pilot Study of Daily Ethanol Consumption: Research Methodology and Study Design.
  Current developments in nutrition 2017 Mukamal KJ, Na B, Mu L, Mantzoros CS, Manning WJ, Mittleman MA
• Circulating irisin, omentin-1, and lipoprotein subparticles in adults at higher cardiovascular risk.
  Metabolism: clinical and experimental 2014 Panagiotou G, Mu L, Na B, Mukamal KJ, Mantzoros CS