Brinda Alagesan, MD, PhD
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Areas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Gastrointestinal cancers and conditions
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
Get to Know Me
I’m a medical oncologist and physician scientist who is an expert in caring for people with pancreatic cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers. This includes:
I see patients at Memorial Hospital, the main hospital at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and at the Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion in New York City.
The best cancer care begins with listening. Every person’s diagnosis, priorities, and goals are unique. I work closely with each patient to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to each person.
I also work closely with a team of different experts. This includes surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and other specialists. We work together to make sure every patient receives complete and coordinated care.
Besides caring for patients, I also conduct research in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Lowe at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
My research focuses on pancreatic cancer. I study how gene changes and the area around a tumor affect how cancer grows and how it responds to treatment. I also study why some treatments stop working.
By combining lab research with clinical care, I hope to develop more effective therapies and improve treatment results for people with pancreatic cancer.
I'm a gastrointestinal (GAS-troh-in-TES-tih-nul) medical oncologist, which is a cancer doctor who specializes in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. This includes anal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric (stomach), liver, and pancreatic cancers. We also treat GI stromal tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.
- Instructor
Conditions I Treat
- Gastrointestinal cancers and conditions
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
- Colorectal cancer and conditions
- Stomach (gastric) cancer
- Liver cancer and conditions
- Esophageal cancers
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania
- MD, Stony Brook University
- PhD, Stony Brook University
Residencies
- Internal Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Fellowships
- Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology
Awards and Honors
- Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2025-2028)
- The Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award, American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (2026)
Insurance Information
Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
This is a dual payer plan, which means 2 health insurance companies share this plan. MSK providers are out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
HMO (City Employee Health Plans Gold and Gold Care Only)
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
TBD
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.
If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.
If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.
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Contact and Location
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Colleagues
Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.
Clinical Trials
Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.
You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.
Search clinical trialsResearch and Publications
- Alagesan B, Varghese AM, Ang C, Gutierrez M, Kamar M, Passhak M, Geva R, Yarom N, Lahav M, Ligresti R, Khamaysi I, Bhutani MS, Phillips A, Matalon S, Pollack-Shragai O, Rom D, Shirvan M, Javle MM, Park W, Yu K, Schwartz C, Golan T, Schattner M, O’Reilly EM. A Phase II Trial of an Extended-Release siRNA Implant Targeting KRASG12D/V in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2026 Mar 16;32(6):1059-1067. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-3189. PMID: 41528981; PMCID: PMC13380262.
- Humpton TJ, Alagesan B, DeNicola GM, Lu D, Yordanov GN, Leonhardt CS, Yao MA, Alagesan P, Zaatari MN, Park Y, Skepper JN, Macleod KF, Perez-Mancera PA, Murphy MP, Evan GI, Vousden KH, Tuveson DA. Oncogenic KRAS Induces NIX-Mediated Mitophagy to Promote Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Discov. 2019 Sep;9(9):1268-1287. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-18-1409. Epub 2019 Jul 1. PMID: 31263025; PMCID: PMC6726540.
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Alagesan’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
See all on PubMedPatient Reviews
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