Kala Y. Kamdar, MD
Department or Service
Location
- Texas Medical Center
Specialty
Blood Disorders
Phone: 832-824-4163
Contact Information
Research Area
- Epidemiology
- Lymphoma
Associate Director, Clinical Division (Outpatient), Cancer and Hematology Centers
Co-Director, Lymphoma Program
Associate Director, Pediatric Lymphoma-Histiocytosis Fellowship Program
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas School of Public Health | masters | Master of Science, Epidemiology | 2010 |
| University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center | post-doctoral fellow | Cancer Prevention | 2008 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | fellowship | Pediatric Hematology-Oncology | 2008 |
| University of Cincinnati / Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center | residency | Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 2005 |
| University of Cincinnati College of Medicine | internship | Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 2001 |
| University of Louisville School of Medicine | medical school | Doctor of Medicine | 2000 |
| University of Louisville | bachelors | Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering | 1996 |
About
Board Certifications
American Board of Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics – Hematology/Oncology
American Board of Internal Medicine
Organization
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) | Member |
| American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) | Member |
| American Society for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) | Member |
Research Statement
Dr. Kala Kamdar's principal research interest is in the prevention of long-term complications of childhood cancer therapies. Due to the need for cancer therapies at a young age, adult survivors of childhood cancer face unique long-term health problems, including neurocognitive impairment and learning difficulties.
Using a molecular epidemiology approach, Dr. Kamdar's current research is focused on genetic susceptibility to neuropsychological impairment after acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy. Specifically, she is investigating the role of genetic polymorphisms in the folate pathway and the xenobiotic detoxification pathway on the development of neurocognitive impairment after exposure to methotrexate chemotherapy, a folate analog.
Ultimately, identification of children at risk for long-term toxicities may lead to modification of treatment regimens or other interventions to minimize these long-term toxicities.
Her research interests include: 1) the long-term complications of childhood cancer therapy, 2) molecular epidemiology, 3) genetic susceptibility to neuropsychological impairment, 4) exposure to methotrexate chemotherapy, and 5) the risk for long-term toxicities.
Selected Publications
Awards
2015 - Present Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Faculty Excellence Award
2013 - Present Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center Faculty Recognition Award
2008 - Present AACR-WICR Brigid G. Leventhal Scholar Award, American Association for Cancer Research, Annual Meeting
2008 - Present Bone Marrow Transplant Fellow Oral Presentation Award, Baylor College of Medicine
2007 - Present Selected for participation in American Association for Cancer Research Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology Workshop, Aspen CO
2007 - Present Russell and Virginia McFarland Award for Oral Presentation of Research, Pediatric Grand Rounds, Texas Children’s Hospital
2007 - Present Participant, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences SNP Workshop, Galveston, TX
2006 - Present Best Tumor Board Award, Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Services, Baylor College of Medicine
2005 - Present Vale-Asche Foundation Fellowship
2004 - Present The Doctor’s Doctor Award, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati
2004 - Present Duke University Evidence-Based Medicine Workshop, Duke University , Durham, NC,
2003 - Present 2nd Place Poster, American College of Physicians Ohio Chapter Scientific Meeting
1999 - Present Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
1995 - Present Donald F. Othmer Academic Excellence Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers