Professor and Department Chair
Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Somaiah is the Chair of the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. She received her medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India and has trained at Drexel University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. She oversees the Department’s Clinical Research enterprise with over 20 active trials and is well versed in multidisciplinary care for sarcoma patients with an in-depth understanding of the challenges of managing the various subtypes of sarcoma. With over 15 years of sarcoma clinical and research experience, she has national and international recognition as a key opinion leader in the field. She has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and led numerous phase I, II, and III clinical trials, including both investigator-initiated and NCI/CTEP-sponsored studies. She has extensive experience in the design and execution of clinical trials and has twice been nominated for the Irwin H. Krakoff Award for Excellence in Clinical Research (2018, 2024) and is consistently ranked among the top 1% of providers in the U.S. As Chair, Dr. Somaiah is deeply committed to the mentorship and career development of early and mid-career faculty. She has successfully guided over 15 trainees and junior faculty in research concept development and clinical trial design, with many going on to establish themselves as academic leaders. She emphasizes the thoughtful exploration of ideas and the development of critical thinking in a supportive atmosphere that is aimed at maximizing their success and satisfaction in academics and research. Dr. Somaiah's primary research focus is on soft-tissue sarcomas, particularly liposarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). She is committed to the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy-based approaches, to improve patient outcomes.