Dr. Bryan Burt

Doctor Overview

Dr. Bryan Burt is a thoracic surgeon, cancer researcher and clinical trialist in Los Angeles, California. He serves as professor of surgery and chief of thoracic surgery at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Burt treats patients at multiple UCLA Health clinical locations.

Before UCLA, Dr. Burt held academic and leadership roles at Baylor College of Medicine. He also trained at Brigham and Women's Hospital under Dr. David Sugarbaker, a nationally recognized pioneer in mesothelioma treatment and thoracic surgery.

Dr. Burt treats complex diseases of the thorax, including pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer and esophageal cancer. Areas of focus in his clinical practice include minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques. As part of UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, he works to combine surgery with immunotherapy and other treatments.

Additionally, Dr. Burt conducts research and clinical trials to improve treatment for thoracic cancers. In 2021, he received a five-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to study checkpoint blockade response in pleural mesothelioma.

He also leads an NIH-funded program that studies tumor immunology and immunotherapy response, as well as tools that help guide doctors' decisions during surgery. Dr. Burt has contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.

Doctor Fast Facts

Main Specialty: Thoracic Surgery

Other Interests & Specialties: Chest wall tumors, diaphragm tumors, esophageal cancers, lung biopsy, lung cancers, mediastinal mass, mesothelioma, minimally invasive robotic surgery, pericardium tumors, pleural effusion, pleural mesothelioma, pneumothorax, sarcoma and thoracic surgical oncology.

Certifications, Awards & Accolades: American Association for Thoracic Surgery Member (Thoracic Oncology Group; General Thoracic Biology Club; Scientific & Government Relations Committee), American Board of Surgery Certification, American Board of Thoracic Surgery Certification in Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, American College of Surgeons Fellow, Bud Frazier Innovation Award Recipient, Distinguished Scientist Award Recipient, Early Career Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care Recipient, International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group Member, NIH Translational Oncoimmunology Study Section Member, Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Award for Enduring Education Recipient, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Member, Southwest Oncology Group Member, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Feature Editor and Editorial Board Top Performance Award Recipient

Education & Experience:

• Medical Degree from Weill Cornell Medicine
• Internship in General Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Residency in General Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Fellowship in Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital

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Publications

Ad-sge-dkk3 gene therapy overcomes resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in pleural mesothelioma. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 July 1;31(13):2639-54.

Soluble mesothelin-related peptide as a prognosticator in pleural mesothelioma patients receiving checkpoint immunotherapy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 Apr;169(4):1082-1095.e4.

Clonal gene signatures predict prognosis in mesothelioma and lung adenocarcinoma. NPJ Precis Oncol. 2024 Feb 23;8(1):47.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials by Dr. Bryan Burt

Dr. Burt is associated with the following clinical trials: