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Location

Texas Medical Center

Specialty
Cancer, Blood Disorders
Phone: 832-824-4163
Fax: 832-825-4732

Address

6701 Fannin St., Ste. 1510.17
Houston, TX 77030

Kala Y. Kamdar, MD

Associate Director, Clinical Division (Outpatient), Cancer and Hematology Center
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
Baylor College of Medicine Fellowship Pediatric Hematology-Oncology 2008
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Post-doctoral Fellow Cancer Prevention 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

Organizations

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.

Awards & Honors

2015    Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Faculty Excellence Award

2013    Faculty Recognition Award, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center

2008    AACR-WICR Brigid G. Leventhal Scholar Award, American Association for Cancer Research

2008    Bone Marrow Transplant Fellow Oral Presentation Award, Baylor College of Medicine

2007    Selected for participation in American Association for Cancer Research Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology Workshop

2007    Russell and Virginia McFarland Award for Oral Presentation of Research, Pediatric Grand Rounds, Texas Children’s Hospital

2007    Participant, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences SNP Workshop 

2006    Best Tumor Board Award, Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Service, Baylor College of Medicine

2005    Vale-Asche Foundation Fellowship

2004    The Doctor’s Doctor Award, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati

2004    Evidence-Based Medicine Workshop, Duke University

2003    2nd Place Poster, American College of Physicians Ohio Chapter Scientific Meeting

1999    Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

1995    Donald F. Othmer Academic Excellence Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Language

English



* Texas Children's Hospital physicians' licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician's office and were not verified by Texas Children's Hospital.