Dr. Mariza Daras is an Associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Chief of Neuro-oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia. She began her academic medical career at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she received her medical degree. After completing her Neurology residency at Duke University Medical Center and a Neuro-oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering, she served as faculty in the Department of Neurology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She subsequently took on a faculty position in the Division of Neuro-oncology at the University of California San Francisco where she spearheaded a CNS metastasis multidisciplinary program. In 2019, she joined VCU to lead the Division of Neuro-oncology. Dr. Daras has focused her research efforts on clinical trials for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors, and specifically in the development of novel immunotherapeutic and combinatorial strategies. She has also dedicated her time to teaching and mentoring medical school students, residents, fellows, and advanced practice providers and is the Program Director of the VCU neuro-oncology fellowship. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties for neuro-oncology. Dr. Daras is a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). She is an appointed member of AAN’s Committee on Public Engagement, as well as the AAN, Committee on Brain Health. She also serves as appointed member of the SNO Diversity and Women Committee, as well as the SNO/ASCO CNS Metastases Annual Conference.