CyberKnife® Inventor John Adler, MD, Wins 2026 Thomas J. Fogarty Innovation Prize
–Frameless, image-guided radiosurgery has transformed care for more than one million patients worldwide–
Press Release Disclaimer: This is a press release distributed through the XPR Media network. It has not been independently verified by our newsroom.
John Adler, MD was awarded the second annual Thomas J. Fogarty Innovation Prize (Fogarty Prize) for the development of frameless, image-guided radiosurgery—first as the CyberKnife®, and later with the ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® platform. The award, which includes a $100,000 cash prize and a custom-cast bronze medallion, was announced October 30 at a black-tie gala in Coronado, CA, attended by nearly 300 leaders from medtech, venture, academia, healthcare, and government. The Fogarty Prize honors innovators who have developed and successfully commercialized a life-changing medical technology.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109201469/en/
Dr. John Adler (center) receives the 2026 Fogarty Prize from gala emcee Dr. Tom Krummel (left) and Fogarty leader Andrew Cleeland (right)
Radiosurgery destroys tumors and other abnormalities inside the body using precisely aimed beams of radiation. There is no incision, and patients typically go home the same day. Adler, a Stanford neurosurgeon, spent three decades removing barriers that stood between radiosurgery as it was first invented and the patients who needed it.
His first invention, the CyberKnife, eliminated the need for a rigid frame bolted to the patient’s skull while also expanding the procedure beyond the brain to targets throughout the body. The world’s first frameless robotic stereotactic radiosurgery system, CyberKnife combines a compact linear accelerator with a robotic arm that moves freely around the patient. It pioneered real-time image guidance to detect movement during treatment and correct targeting automatically.
Adler then continued to innovate with the goal of improving access by making the procedure available in outpatient settings and smaller facilities. His second invention, the ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery platform, is the first vault-free, cobalt-free system designed specifically for the brain, head, and neck. ZAP-X employs unique gyroscopic mobility to deliver radiosurgical beams from thousands of potential angles, precisely concentrating radiation on the intended target while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. Together, the two technologies have been used to treat more than one million patients.
“Tom Fogarty beautifully captured the spirit of innovation with his observation: ‘There’s got to be a better way,’” said Adler. “As his disciple, that philosophy, combined with my experiences as a neurosurgeon, has driven me to pursue radical innovations that all patients deserve, however long and arduous the journey. I am honored to receive this year’s Fogarty Prize.”
“Getting a technology to patients takes grit, determination, and an entire community—clinicians, engineers, investors, regulators, and the people who believe before the evidence is in,” said Fogarty Innovation leader Andrew Cleeland. “The Fogarty Prize honors both the innovator and the collective effort required to bring better solutions to patients. John Adler is a rare innovator who has done it twice.”
Finalists Also Recognized
The gala also recognized two other finalist teams: Jessie Becker Alexander, Nathan Bair, and Amelia Degenkolb, inventors of the JADA® System for managing postpartum hemorrhage; and John Adams, Todd Brinton, MD, and Daniel Hawkins, developers of Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy for treating calcified arteries. Short films highlighting each team’s innovation journey were screened during the event. The winner was chosen by an independent selection committee, which noted that the scoring was exceptionally close.
Named in honor of the late Thomas J. Fogarty, MD—a pioneering cardiovascular surgeon and icon in medical device innovation—the Fogarty Prize is made possible through a foundational grant from the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation. The inaugural Fogarty Prize was awarded in 2025 to Allan Zingeler, Raju Viswanathan, PhD, and Mike Mahoney for the development of FARAPULSE pulsed field ablation.
Nominations for the 2027 Fogarty Prize will open on April 5, 2027.
About Fogarty Innovation
Fogarty Innovation, part of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, is a nonprofit organization that advances human health worldwide by accelerating medtech innovation through incubation, education, and alliances. Our experienced team provides “full-contact coaching” to help companies navigate the journey from concept to clinical impact, delivers practical educational programming to stakeholders across the ecosystem, and forges strategic alliances that accelerate the deployment of new technologies into clinical care. Founded by the late Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, Fogarty Innovation is headquartered on the El Camino Health campus in Mountain View, California. Learn more: www.fogartyinnovation.org.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109201469/en/
Media gallery
