Manidhar Reddy Lekkala, M.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Manidhar Lekkala is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Lekkala received his medical degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, India, and proceeded to complete an Internal Medicine residency and Chief residency at Guthrie/Robert Packer Hospital in Pennsylvania. He later completed a Hematology-Oncology fellowship at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.

Dr. Lekkala is triple board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine with a sub-certification in both Hematology and Medical Oncology. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.

Dr. Lekkala serves on the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Item-Writing Task Force, contributing to the development of high-quality, evidence-based questions for board certification and maintenance of certification examinations. In this role, he drafts and refines scenario-based items aligned to ABIM’s exam blueprint, integrates current clinical guidelines and consensus standards, and collaborates with fellow content experts to ensure clarity, validity, and appropriate difficulty.

• MBBS, Medicine/Surgery, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Gulbarga, Karnataka
• Residency, Internal Medicine Residency, Guthrie/Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pennsylvania
• Residency, Chief Resident, Internal Medicine Residency Program , Guthrie/Robert Packer Hospital , Sayre, PA
• Clinical Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York

• American Medical Association , Member, 2020 - Present
• American Society of Clinical Oncology, Member, 2018 - Present
• American Society of Hematology , Member, 2018 - Present
• American College of Physicians, Member, 2016 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Manidhar Lekkala leads community-anchored cancer research at The University of Kansas Cancer Center through the Masonic Cancer Alliance (MCA), the center’s regional outreach network. As a site Principal Investigator, he activates and oversees a broad portfolio of NCI-sponsored clinical trials—spanning prevention, novel therapeutics, and precision oncology—while ensuring protocol integrity, patient safety, and high-quality data. He has been recognized with the National Cancer Institute’s Gold Certificate of Excellence, reflecting a sustained commitment to rigorous, patient-centered research.

A defining focus of Dr. Lekkala’s work is expanding clinical trial access for rural patients. By bringing studies to MCA outreach locations across Kansas and the surrounding region, he reduces travel burden, shortens time to treatment, and enables patients to participate in cutting-edge therapies close to home. This model advances equity and strengthens the scientific relevance of research by reflecting the communities served. Through this approach, Dr. Lekkala consistently enrolls rural participants, supports their retention on trials, and helps translate discoveries into better outcomes where they are needed most.

• Moftakhar B, Lekkala M, Strawderman M, Smith TC, Meacham P, Fitzgerald B, Falkson CI, Dhakal A. 2020. Impact of early dose intensity reduction of Palbociclib on clinical outcomes in patients with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.. Breast cancer research and treatment, 183 (2), 411-418
• Kasi Anup, Dai Junqiang, Al-Rajabi Raed Moh'd, Baranda Joaquina Celebre, Saeed Anwaar, Chalise Prabhakar, Carroll Erin, Bradbury Shannon, Hyter Stephen, Witek Malgorzata Anna, Beeki Venkatadri, McKittrick Richard J, Lekkala Manidhar Reddy, Chidharla Anusha, Kumer Sean, Schmitt Timothy, Williamson Stephen K, Soper Steven, Godwin Andrew K, Sun Weijing. 2023. Targeting germline or somatic DNA repair defects (beyond BRCA) in pancreatic cancer with niraparib: A phase II study (NIRA-PANC).. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 41 (16_suppl), 4156-4156. https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2023.41.16_suppl.4156
• Kasi A, Gaudel P, Lekkala M, Al-Rajabi R, Saeed A, Sun W, Porter C. 2023. A novel outpatient regimen in management of fluoropyrimidine-induced cardiotoxicity. Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
• Banerjee Titas, Mendler Jason Harold, Badri Nabeel, Hettler Dwight, Berkhof Julie Ann, Abbas Karen, Lekkala Manidhar Reddy, Moftakhar Bahar, Welaya Karim, Treptow Carissa, Babu Dilip Sankar, Baumgart Megan. 2019. Evaluating end - of-life (EOL) care at the University of Rochester Medical Center using quality oncology practice initiative (QOPI) metrics. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 37 (27_Suppl). https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2019.37.27_suppl.12
• Abedi SM, Lekkala M, Moftakhar B, Clarke T, Patel A. 2022. Protecting High-Risk Oncology Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Creating an Isolated Outpatient Clinic.. JCO oncology practice, 18 (4), e626-e631
• Mullangi Sanjana, Lekkala Manidhar Reddy, Blocker Sarah, Kim Diana, Zhang Jun, Huang Chao, Neupane Prakash, Li Haoran, Schieber Timothy. 2025. Brief Report: Safety, Efficacy, and CNS Control in Patients with High Baseline Risk Factors Treated with Tarlatamab for Small Cell Lung Cancer or Extrapulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma. JTO Clinical and Research Reports, 100875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtocrr.2025.100875
• Mullangi Sanjana, Lekkala Manidhar Reddy, Kasi Anup. 2025. Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer With Positive Lymph Nodes After Complete Resection: Is There a Role for Radiotherapy?. ASCO POST