Ramya Ramaswami, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.

Ramya Ramaswami, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.
Assistant Research Physician
HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch

Team Member of:

Robert Yarchoan, M.D.

Dr. Ramaswami is a physician in the HIV/AIDS Malignancy Branch. She is an expert in the management of patients with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)-associated diseases, such as Kaposi sarcoma and multicentric Castleman disease, and other HIV-associated cancers. Her clinical and translational research is focused on developing novel diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies for patients with HIV and cancer.

Dr. Ramaswami also investigates ways to reduce cancer care disparities among people living with HIV within the United States and beyond.

Areas of Expertise
1) Kaposi sarcoma 2) multicentric Castleman disease 3) HIV-associated malignancy 4) viral oncology 5) global oncology 6) health disparities

Contact Info

Ramya Ramaswami, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 10, Room 6N106
Bethesda, MD 20892-1868
Ph: 240-858-3261
ramya.ramaswami@nih.gov
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Dr. Ramaswami is a medical oncologist in the HIV/AIDS Malignancy Branch (HAMB). She leads the natural history and treatment study of patients with KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (KSHV-MCD) within the NCI, which includes the largest group of patients treated for this condition within the United States. Clinical and laboratory data from this study will help inform new ways to diagnose and treat this rare and life-threatening condition.

Patients with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) and HIV often present with more than one malignancy, which may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Dr. Ramaswami collaborates with her laboratory and clinical colleagues to determine key immunologic, genomic and clinical parameters that distinguish between these conditions, with an aim to improve patient outcomes.

Scientific Focus Areas:
Cancer Biology, Clinical Research, Health Disparities, Immunology, Virology

Selected Key Publications

  1. Evolution of HIV-Associated Lymphoma Over 3 Decades.
    Ramaswami R, Chia G, Dalla Pria A, Pinato DJ, Parker K, Nelson M, Bower M.
    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 72: 177-183, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  2. Outcomes of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed/refractory HIV-associated lymphoma..
    Ramaswami R, Dalla Pria A, Parker K, McCann S, Kanfer EJ, Nelson M, Bower M.
    Bone Marrow Transplant. 51: 1609-1611, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  3. The pharmacokinetics of high-dose methotrexate in people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.
    Dalla Pria A, Bendle M, Ramaswami R, Boffito M, Bower M.
    Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 77: 653-657, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  4. Precision Medicine from a Public Health Perspective.
    Ramaswami R, Bayer R, Galea S.
    Annu Rev Public Health. 39: 153-168, 2018. [ Journal Article ]
  5. Disparities in Breast, Lung, and Cervical Cancer Trials Worldwide.
    Ramaswami R, Paulino E, Barrichello A, Nogueria-Rodrigues A, Bukowski A, St. Louis J, Goss PE.
    J Global Oncol. 4: 1-11, 2018. [ Journal Article ]

Dr. Ramaswami received her medical degree from Imperial College London and a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. She completed her medical and oncology training within the National Health Services of the United Kingdom. During her oncology fellowship, she worked with the National Centre for HIV Malignancy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, which is Europe's largest research and treatment institute for HIV-associated cancers.

 Dr. Ramaswami was an editorial fellow at the New England Journal of Medicine between 2016-2017. She is a member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP(UK)) and has completed her specialty training examinations in medical oncology (SCE).