Dr. Kumar is the Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Consultant, Division of Hematology, Medical Director, Cancer Clinical Research Office, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Shaji Kumar’s research team evaluates the in vitro activity of novel drugs that, based on their mechanisms of action, are likely to have activity in the setting of myeloma. Promising drugs are brought into the clinic through early-stage clinical trials in Phase I or II studies. Dr. Kumar conducts National Institutes of Health-funded research on translation of novel therapeutic targets in multiple myeloma, understanding the mechanism of disease progression from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to active myeloma, and mechanisms of high risk disease. He also receives funding from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to study the relationship between molecular profiles, treatment regimens for patients with multiple myeloma and outcomes and various clinical trials in relapsed multiple myeloma.
One of the his many achievements includes his work with other US myeloma specialists, Dr. Noopur Raji, and Dr. Sundar Jagannath and several from India to provide a myeloma treatment template for India much like the mSmart program in the USA. It is called the Consensus in the Management of Multiple Myeloma in India. To view CLICK HERE.
Dr. Kumar’s Top 5 in there order of importance are as follows. Click on the abstract number or the title to go directly to the expanded abstract explanation.
Phase 3 trial of upfront Dara
First randomized trial of a PI maintenance
New immune modality, the preliminary results appear exciting
This trial has excellent responses and the follow up gives some sense of the durability
Importance of dose modification in elderly
Dr. Kumar, thank you for all you do for the myeloma patient community throughout the world.