NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center Names Renowned Liver Cancer Researcher to Lead Its Liver Cancer Program

NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center has named Augusto Villanueva Rodriguez, MD, PhD, a renowned hepatologist, or liver disease specialist, as the new academic director and medical director of its Liver Cancer Program. Dr. Villanueva brings a wealth of clinical, research, and leadership experience and comes to NYU Langone from Mount Sinai Hospital.

As a hepatologist, Dr. Villanueva Rodriguez has treated patients with a wide spectrum of liver diseases, from conditions like viral hepatitis and fatty liver disease to complex cases such as cirrhosis and autoimmune liver disorders. His specific area of specialization is in the treatment of primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the most common form of liver cancer. He also is an accomplished researcher and has studied and developed technologies that use liquid biopsy to help detect and identify liver cancers to create the best treatment plans for patients.

As the medical director of NYU Langone's Liver Cancer Program, Dr. Villanueva Rodriguez will lead a team of medical oncologists, liver surgeons, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, hepatologists, and nurse practitioners who specialize in complex liver diseases and malignancies. This multidisciplinary approach to care allows for personalized, targeted treatment plans for patients.

"My treatment philosophy is built on two essential pillars: respect for the patient as an individual and a multidisciplinary approach to care," said Dr. Villanueva Rodriguez. "The team at Perlmutter Cancer Center is dedicated to fostering a trusting, supportive environment where every patient is treated with dignity and compassion."

Dr. Villanueva Rodriguez will see patients at NYU Medical Oncology Associates at NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Center 38^th Street and will be a member of the faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Villanueva Rodriguez and see him bring his exceptional leadership experience to our team," said Alec Kimmelman, MD, PhD, director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center and the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Radiation Oncology. "His research in liquid biopsy plays into the mission of our new Molecular Oncology Program, and his exceptional background as a clinician makes him a critical new addition to our Liver Cancer Program."

About Dr. Villanueva Rodriguez

Dr. Augusto Villanueva Rodriguez earned his medical degree and completed his residency in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. He went on to complete a PhD in biomedical sciences at the same university, followed by an MSc in liver research at the University of Barcelona. He is board certified in gastroenterology and hepatology in Spain and has additional certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and gastroenterology, as well as licensure in both the U.S. and U.K.

Dr. Augusto Villanueva Rodriguez is an NIH-funded investigator and has received significant professional recognition, including being named to Clarivate's Highly Cited Researchers list in both 2023 and 2024—an honor awarded to the top 1 percent of scientists worldwide, based on citation metrics. His scholarly influence is also reflected in his extensive publication record and leadership roles in international liver cancer research initiatives.

Professionally, Dr. Villanueva has been an active member of numerous esteemed organizations. These include the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. He has served on multiple scientific advisory boards and committees, including the NCI Liver Cancer Advisory Group, and held leadership roles such as executive secretary of ILCA and co-chair of major hepatology consensus conferences. His ongoing involvement in clinical and translational liver cancer research is further supported by contributions to consensus panels, biomarker development groups, and tumor boards in both the U.S. and Europe.

About NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health is a fully integrated health system that consistently achieves the best patient outcomes through a rigorous focus on quality that has resulted in some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation. Vizient Inc. has ranked NYU Langone No. 1 out of 115 comprehensive academic medical centers across the nation for three years in a row, and "U.S. News & World Report" recently placed nine of its clinical specialties among the top five in the nation. NYU Langone offers a comprehensive range of medical services with one high standard of care across seven inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 320 outpatient locations in the New York area and Florida. With $14.2 billion in revenue this year, the system also includes two tuition-free medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise.

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SOURCE NYU Langone Health System