Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai – India
About Dr. Rakesh Jalali
Dr. Rakesh Jalali is an internationally acclaimed Radiation and Neuro-Oncologist and a key opinion leader. He is renowned for his pioneering work in high-precision radiotherapy techniques, including Proton Therapy, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Dr. Jalali developed the highly respected Neuro-Oncology unit at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and was instrumental in founding the Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ISNO). His research, published in leading global journals, has significantly influenced cancer treatment philosophies, particularly in Neuro-Oncology and enhancing patients’ quality of life. Dr. Jalali, renowned Neuro-oncologist in Chennai is also deeply committed to patient welfare, having founded the Brain Tumour Foundation of India.
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees:
- MBBS – Government Medical College, Jammu (University of Jammu, India) (June 1990)
- MD (Radiotherapy and Oncology) – Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India (Jan 1994) – Passed with distinction, Awarded “MERIT OF FIRST ORDER”.
- FRCP(Edin) – Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Senior Research Fellowship, Academic Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London, UK (Mar 1998 – Sep 1999) – Focused on Stereotactic Radiotherapy.
Areas of Expertise
Major Cancer Types Treated:
- Brain Tumours (Glioma, Glioblastoma, Astrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma, Ependymoma, Meningioma, Medulloblastoma, Pituitary Adenoma, Craniopharyngioma, Acoustic Neuroma)
- Spinal Cord Tumours
- Base of Skull Tumours
- Paediatric Cancers (Brain Tumours, Retinoblastoma, Wilms’ Tumour, Neuroblastoma, Sarcomas)
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Other cancers suitable for high-precision radiotherapy (e.g., Lung, Prostate, Liver, Pancreas, Bladder, Cervical, Endometrial, Colon, Oesophageal, Skin, Sarcomas like Chondrosarcoma/Osteosarcoma)
- Radiation Oncology
- Neuro-Oncology (Brain and Spine)
- Paediatric Radiation Oncology
- Proton Beam Therapy
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) & Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT/SCRT)
- Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR / SBRT)
- 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
- 4D Gated Radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy (Coordination/planning role)
- Total Body Irradiation (TBI)/Total Skin Electron Therapy (TSET)
- Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) technique
List of Disease and Treatment for which Dr. Rakesh Jalali can be consulted
Professional Experience
Current & Past Hospital Affiliations:
- Medical Director & Lead – Neuro Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai (Current)
- Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai (Concurrent)
- Professor, Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai (Past – Developed Neuro-Oncology Unit)
- Extensive research publication record (>300 peer-reviewed articles).
- Key role in developing treatment guidelines and research models.
- Highly sought-after speaker and teacher at national and international scientific meetings.
- Former member of TMH Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Data Monitoring Committee.
- Developed one of India’s leading Neuro-Oncology units at TMH.
- Instrumental in establishing the Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ISNO) – served as Founding General Secretary, President, and now chairs Senior Advisory Council.
- Founder of the ‘Brain Tumour Foundation of India’, a charity for patient support.
- Pioneer in high-precision radiotherapy techniques in India.
- Significant contributions to global oncology literature in high-impact journals.
Awards & Recognitions
- Best Oncologist Award by Medscape (2014)
- Top Radiation Oncologist Award (Awarded for 3 consecutive years from 2014 onwards)
- Chikitsa Rattan Award and gold medal for excellence in medical science by the International Study Circle, New Delhi (2007)
- Bharat Jyothi Award (2010)
- Mother Teresa Award for advances in medicine (2012).
Research & Publications
- Efficacy of stereotactic conformal radiotherapy vs conventional radiotherapy on benign and low-grade brain tumors: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA oncology (2017).
- Recent developments and future directions in adult lower-grade gliomas: Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) and European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) consensus. Neuro-oncology (2019).
- Indian data on central nervous tumors: A summary of published work. South Asian journal of cancer (2016).
- Prospective evaluation of radiotherapy with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide in children with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics (2010).
- Factors influencing neurocognitive outcomes in young patients with benign and low-grade brain tumors treated with stereotactic conformal radiotherapy. International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics (2010).
- High-precision radiotherapy for craniospinal irradiation: evaluation of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and helical TomoTherapy. The British journal of radiology (2009).
- Clinical studies for improving radiotherapy with 2-deoxy-D-glucose: present status and future prospects. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics (2009).
- Prospective analysis of incidence of central nervous tumors presenting in a tertiary cancer hospital from India. Journal of Neuro-oncology (2008).
- High precision focused irradiation in the form of fractionated stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (SCRT) for benign meningiomas predominantly in the skull base location. Clinical oncology (2002).
Consultation Fees & Treatment Costs
Radiation therapy costs, especially advanced techniques like Proton Therapy for brain tumor or SRS, vary significantly based on the technology used, number of sessions, complexity of planning, and specific cancer type/location. Below are broad estimates.
Note: These are indicative estimates only. For detailed cost information, contact Cancer Rounds team.
| Treatment/Procedure for Cancer | Estimated Cost (INR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
| Proton Therapy (Course) | ₹ 10,00,000 – ₹ 20,00,000+ | $ 24,000 – $ 36,000+ |
| Intensity Modulated Radio Therapy (IMRT) | ₹ 3,00,000 – ₹ 6,00,000+ | $ 3,600 – $ 7,200+ |
| Image Guided Radio Therapy (IGRT) | ₹ 3,50,000 – ₹ 7,00,000+ | $ 4,200 – $ 8,400+ |
| Stereotactic Body Radio Therapy (SBRT) | ₹ 4,50,000 – ₹ 9,00,000+ | $ 5,400 – $ 10,800+ |
| Stereotactic Radio Surgery (SRS) | ₹ 5,00,000 – ₹ 10,00,000+ | $ 6,000 – $ 12,000+ |
| TomoTherapy (Course) | ₹ 5,00,000 – ₹ 10,00,000+ | $ 6,000 – $ 12,000+ |
| Brachytherapy (Course) | ₹ 1,50,000 – ₹ 4,00,000+ | $ 1,800 – $ 4,800+ |
International Patient Assistance
- Language Support: Cancer Rounds can arrange for interpreters for various other languages.
- Visa & Travel Assistance: Cancer Rounds team provide comprehensive support for medical visa processing, travel arrangements, airport assistance, and accommodation.
- Pre-treatment Virtual Consultations: Online consultations are available, allowing international patients to have detailed discussions, share medical reports and imaging, receive expert opinions, and understand treatment options (including Proton Therapy suitability) prior to travelling.
Patient Success Stories & Testimonials
“Dr. Jalali is simply the best neuro-oncologist and brain cancer expert in India. He treated my glioma with such precision using Proton Therapy. He is direct, knowledgeable, and incredibly skilled. My experience was commendable.” – Naveen H.“We consulted Dr. Jalali for my child’s brain tumour. His expertise in paediatric radiation oncology gave us confidence. He explained the complex treatment plan clearly and was very supportive. ” – Mrs. Singh.“After my SRS treatment under Dr. Jalali, the follow-up scans showed great results. His approach is highly scientific, and he focuses on minimising side effects. Really liked his attitude towards patients.” – Disha R.
Treatment Approach & Philosophy
- Patient-Centred Care: Emphasises providing evidence-based, individualised treatment plans focusing on maximizing cure rates while minimising treatment-related side effects to preserve patients’ quality of life. Strong advocate for patient welfare and equitable care access (Founder, Brain Tumour Foundation).
- Technology & Innovation: A leader in adopting and advancing high-precision radiotherapy techniques, including Proton Therapy, SRS/SCRT, IMRT/IGRT/VMAT. His practice is driven by cutting-edge research and international best practices, particularly in Neuro-Oncology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Rakesh Jalali is a highly specialised Radiation Oncologist with a primary focus and international recognition in Neuro-Oncology (treatment of brain and spinal cord tumours) and expertise in Proton Therapy.
Dr. Jalali has over 28 years of extensive experience in the field of Radiation Oncology.
Yes, Dr. Jalali is a leading expert in Proton Therapy.
Dr. Rakesh Jalali developed the renowned Neuro-Oncology unit at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and was a key founder and leader (past President, current Sr. Advisor) of the Indian Society of Neuro-Oncology (ISNO). He also founded the Brain Tumour Foundation of India.
Dr. Rakesh Jalali appointment can be booked through Cancer Rounds team.
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai - India
Spinal Cord Tumour
