There’s no shortage of noteworthy research duos at UT Health Science Center, but it’s unusual to find two researchers who are father and son. Ramesh Narayanan and Arvind Ramesh are such a pair. Each is making important research contributions in their own right at UT Health Science Center. And each draws inspiration from the other.
Ramesh Narayanan, PhD, MBA, is a professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the College of Medicine, Muirhead Endowed Professor of Pathology, and the deputy director of the Center for Cancer Research. He is also the interim assistant dean of Research in the College of Medicine. He regularly makes headlines with breakthrough discoveries that are being translated into cancer treatments. His most recent drug candidate, developed in collaboration with Duane Miller, PhD, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is a molecule designed as a treatment for advanced metastatic prostate cancer, which is now in its first clinical trial.
Despite this milestone, Dr. Narayanan is most proud of his son, Arvind Ramesh, following in his footsteps. “I am proud that Arvind is focused on becoming a physician with a scientific mindset,” said Dr. Narayanan. “I am happy that he will be following my footsteps of harnessing research to uncover solutions to diseases affecting our Tennesseans.”
Arvind, a student research assistant in the College of Medicine, performs research in the lab of Liza Makowski, PhD, professor in the division of Medical Hematology and associate director of the Center for Cancer Research. Focusing on the microbiome, he studies medical and surgical weight loss interventions in cancer risk, progression, and response to immunotherapy.
“I am proud that Arvind is focused on becoming a physician with a scientific mindset. I am happy that he will be following my footsteps of harnessing research to uncover solutions to diseases affecting our Tennesseans.”
Dr. Ramesh Narayanan
Born in Houston while his father was completing his postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Arvind grew up in Memphis. Twenty years later, he returned to his father’s alma mater to begin his own research career. He completed his undergraduate studies at Rice University, earning his B.S. degree in biochemistry and cell Bbology. During his undergraduate years, Arvind performed translational research in a central nervous system tumor lab, investigating the molecular, clinical, and genetic aspects of CNS neoplasias and the gut-brain axis at MD Anderson Cancer Center and at Baylor College of Medicine. He hopes to attend medical school and one day become a physician-scientist.
“I always wanted to one day be a doctor, to take the findings and the research I’ve gained in various labs and help underserved patients not only in Memphis and Tennessee, but across the country and perhaps even the world through patient treatments,” Arvind said. He sees his dad’s accomplishments as motivation. “I hope one day to be as successful, and hopefully even more successful, as he is now. Watching him inspires me to stay motivated and work hard to pursue my dreams.”