Faculty & Staff

doctor

Dr Nirmala S

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

Professor

languageLanguages

English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu
  • Overview
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Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

Qualification/ Education

M.B.B.S-  Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore- 1983

M.D.(Radiotherapy) – Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore- 1989 

Experience

With over four decades of clinical excellence, Dr. Nirmala S, is a distinguished leader in Radiation Oncology, known for establishing state-of-the-art departments and pioneering advanced treatment protocols in India and abroad.

Dr. Nirmala’s career is defined by a commitment to building oncology infrastructure. After earning an MD from Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO) in 1989, she served as Assistant Professor at Ahvaz University, Iran (1990–1995).

Upon returning to India, Dr. Nirmala played a pivotal role at M.S. Ramaiah (MSR) Medical College, where she:

  • Established the Radiotherapy Department in 1998.
  • Spearheaded the launch of the MD Post-Graduate program, shaping the department into an academic hub.

Later joined BGS Global Hospital (2012–2014), where she was once again instrumental in establishing a comprehensive oncology department. Dr. Nirmala joined Department of Radiation Oncology, St. John’s Medical College as Professor and Head in the year 2016 and was instrumental in starting the MD Radiation Oncology Course in St. John’s Medical College in 2020. 

As a dedicated educator, Dr. Nirmala, has served as a Postgraduate Guide for nearly 25 MD students, fostering the careers of numerous oncologists. Dr. Nirmala, believes in a patient-centric approach that combines cutting-edge technology with compassionate care

Areas of interest

  • Advanced technologies - Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Electron Beam Therapy and Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT), Adaptive Radiotherapy (ART) 
  • Brachytherapy – Image guided Brachytherapy (IGBT) in intracavitary, interstitial, intraluminal and surface mould techniques. 
  • Special Procedures in Radiation Oncology – Total Body Irradiation (TBI), Craniospinal Irradiation (CSI), Radiotherapy under anesthesia and Total Skin Electron Radiotherapy (TSET).

Field of Expertise

Breast Oncology, Gynaecologic Oncology, Brain Oncology 

Extramural portfolios/ Committees

  • Internal Committee (Member 2019 to 2025), 
  • Vice President of AROI Karnataka Chapter 2004 to 2006
  • President of AROI Karnataka Chapter 2011 to 2013

Other formal training/certification

  1. Training in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) from Milan, Italy
  2. Training in Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) from Denmark
  3. Certificate course in Essentials of Palliative Care (Level II): a formal training in Palliative medicine 

Membership of professional associations/bodies

  • Vice President of AROI Karnataka Chapter 2004 to 200
  • President of AROI Karnataka Chapter May 2011 till  May 2013
  • Executive member of AROI (K) from 2013-2014
  • Life member of Association of Radiation Oncologists of India
  • Life member of Association of Medical Physicists of India
  • Life member of Indian Association of Palliative Care
  • Life member of Association of Gynaecologic Oncologists of India
  • Life member of Gynaecologic Oncologists of India, Karnataka Chapter
  • Life member of Indian Brachytherapy Society
  • Life member of Indian society of Oncology

Awards and Recognitions

Karnataka Health Care Vaidya Ratna Award 2024 

Keynote speaker in AROKSCON 2025

No groups and associations specified.

Limited pelvic radiotherapy in post-operative uterine carcinoma

Groups and Associations Hadrian Noel Alexander, Avinash H Udayashankara, Silpa Johnson, Nirmala Srikantia, John Michael Raj
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy 2025
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Trends in radiation therapy administration at a pediatric cancer center in South India

Groups and Associations Sakshi Garg, Sandeep Muzumder, Hadrian Noel Alexander F, Avinash H. Udayashankara, Nirmala Srikantia, John Michael Raj
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal 2025
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Predictive Factors for Esophageal Stricture Following Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Carcinoma

Groups and Associations Swathi R Krishna, Sandeep Muzumder, Silpa Johnson, Nirmala Srikantia, Avinash H U , Santu Ghosh, Rajesh Majumder
Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer 2025
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Evolving role of radiation therapy in paediatric cancer

Groups and Associations Sakshi Garg, Sandeep Muzumder, S. Nirmala, H.U. Avinash
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal 2024
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Clinicopathological Characteristics and Outcomes of Metaplastic Breast Cancer: Experience from a Tertiary Cancer Center in India

Groups and Associations Vijaya L. V. Venkata,Donna C. P. Tharappel, Ganesha D. Vashishta, Rakesh S. Ramesh, Nirmala Srikantia, Akshai C. Kashiappa
Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology 2025
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Hospital factors determining overall survival in cancer patients undergoing curative treatment

Groups and Associations Sandeep Muzumder, Arkaja Tripathy, Hadrian N Alexander, Nirmala Srikantia
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2024
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Sepsis surveillance in patients with head-and-neck cancer undergoing chemo-radiation

Groups and Associations Ajay Babu, Hadrian Noel Alexander F, Sandeep Muzumder, Nirmala Srikantia, Avinash H Udayashankar
Supportive Care in Cancer - Springer Nature 2024
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Radiation induced brachial plexopathy in head and neck cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy and correlation with disease characteristics and dosimetric parameters

Groups and Associations F Hadrian Noel Alexander, Nirmala Srikantia, Sandeep Muzumder, Avinash H Udayashankara, Mg John Sebastian, Deepu C Tom, R P Kathiressan, John Michael Raj
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy 2024
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Definitive radiotherapy with nodal boost for radiologically positive nodes in carcinoma cervix – A retrospective cohort study

Groups and Associations Alexander, F Hadrian Noel; Udayashankara, Avinash H.; Nirmala, S; Sebastian, M G John; Muzumder, Sandeep; Raju, Jayalekshmi; Tripathy, Arkaja; Ghosh, Santu
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2024
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A comparison of conventional and accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy in definitive chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study

Groups and Associations Arkaja Tripathy, Sandeep Muzumder, Nirmala Srikantia, Ajay Babu, Mg John Sebastian, Avinash H Udayashankar, Ganesha Dev Vashishta, John Michael Raj
Radiation Oncology Journal 2023
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Volumetric image guidance for intravaginal brachytherapy: A dosimetric and clinical study

Groups and Associations Avinash H Udayashankara, Nirmala Srikantia, Sandeep Muzumder, Suparna H Chandramouli, John M Raj , Mazhar H Shariff
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2022
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Late toxicities in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy

Groups and Associations Sandeep Muzumder, Nirmala Srikantia, Avinash H Udayashankar, Prashanth Bhat Kainthaje, M G John Sebastian, John Michael Raj
Radiation Oncology Journal 2021
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Optimal time management on linear accelerator: A logical model to reduce patient waiting time

Groups and Associations Avinash H Udayashankar, Shibina Noorjahan, Nirmala Srikantia, Ravindra Babu Kamunuri, Niranjan Immanuel, Sandeep Muzumder, S H Chandramouli, Mazhar H Shariff
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019
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Compliance, toxicity and efficacy in weekly versus 3-weekly cisplatin concurrent chemoradiation in locally advanced head and neck cancer

Groups and Associations Sandeep Muzumder, Nirmala Srikantia , Ganesha Dev Vashishta , Avinash H. Udayashankar , John Michael Raj , M. G. John Sebastian and Prashanth Bhat Kainthaje
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice 2018
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Burden of acute toxicities in head-and-neck radiation therapy: A single-institutional experience

Groups and Associations Sandeep Muzumder, Nirmala Srikantia, Avinash H Udayashankar, Prashanth Bhat Kainthaje, M G John Sebastian
South Asian Journal of Cancer Search Search filter 2020
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Early Competing Deaths in Locally Advanced Head-and-Neck Cancer

Groups and Associations Sandeep Muzumder, S Nirmala , HU Avinash , Prashanth Bhat Kainthaje , MG John Sebastian , John Michael Raj
Indian Journal of Palliative Care 2018
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Analgesic and Opioid Use in Pain Associated with Head-and-Neck Radiation Therapy

Groups and Associations Sandeep Muzumder, S Nirmala, H U Avinash, Mg John Sebastian, Prashanth Bhat Kainthaje
Indian Journal of Palliative Care 2018
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Immobilization versus no immobilization for pelvic external beam radiotherapy

Groups and Associations Avinash H Udayashankar, Shibina Noorjahan, Nirmala Srikantia, K Ravindra Babu, Sandeep Muzumder
Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy 2018
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Optimal technique of radiotherapy for carcinoma cervix in developing countries: Dosimetric and logistic comparison

Groups and Associations T R Arul Ponni , H U Avinash, S Nirmala, M G Janaki , A S Kirthi Koushik
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018
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Feasibility of concurrent weekly paclitaxel and radiotherapy in adjuvant treatment of breast cancer: An experience from India.

Groups and Associations Mohan Kumar Somashekar, Murali Subramanian V, Nirmala Srikantaiah S, Arul Ponni TR, Rajeev A G, Kirthi Koushik AS, Janaki M G, Nalini Kilara R, and Ramesh Bilimagga S
Journal of Clinical Oncology 2012
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Positional variation of applicators during low dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer: a prospective study

Groups and Associations Kirthi Koushik, Ramesh Bilimagga, Nirmala Rao, M G Janaki, Arul Ponni, A G Rajeev
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy 2010
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Treatment outcomes in locally advanced colorectal carcinoma

Groups and Associations K Harish, Yv Narayanaswamy, S Nirmala
International Seminars in Surgcal Oncology- Springer Nature 2004
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Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma treated with radiotherapy

Groups and Associations M G Janaki, S Nirmala, A G Rajeev
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2007
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Epidural analgesia during brachytherapy for cervical cancer patients

Groups and Associations M G Janaki, S Nirmala, Amrit R Kadam, B S Ramesh, K S Sunitha
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2008
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Unilateral solitary choroid metastasis from breast cancer: rewarding results of external radiotherapy

Groups and Associations S Nirmala, Malavika Krishnaswamy, M G Janaki, Kirthi S Kaushik
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2008
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Invasive thymoma with intraorbital metastases

Groups and Associations S Nirmala, M G Janaki, K Malavika, Karthik S Rishi
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2009
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Palliative Benefits of the Multimodality Approach in the Re-treatment of Recurrent Malignant Glioma: Two Case Reports

Groups and Associations Arulponni Tr, Janaki Mg, Nirmala S
Indian Journal of Palliative Care 2009
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Aggressive approach in a case of cancer cervix with uremia

Groups and Associations Mg Janaki, S Mukesh, Tr Arul Ponni, S Nirmala
Indian Journal of Palliative Care 2010
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Endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma in a premenopausal woman with multiple organ metastases

Groups and Associations Nirmala Srikantia, Rekha B, Rajeev A G, Suman N Kalyan
Indian Journal of Palliative Care 2009
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Crystalline maculopathy: a rare complication of tamoxifen therapy

Groups and Associations Nirmala Srikantia, S Mukesh, Malavika Krishnaswamy
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2010
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How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?

Groups and Associations Nirmala Srikantia, Karthik S Rishi, M G Janaki, Ramesh S Bilimagga, Arul Ponni, A G Rajeev, Kirthi Kaushik, Mala Dharmalingam
Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology 2011
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RhoC in association with TET2/WDR5 regulates cancer stem cells in epigenetically modifyng the expression of pluripotency genes

Groups and Associations Pavana Thomas, Sweta Srivastava, Avinash H Udayashankara, Samyuktha Damodaran, Lokendra Yadav, Boby Mathew, Srinag Bangalore Suresh, Amit Kumar Mandal, Nirmala Srikantia
Original research article 2022
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RhoC regulates radioresistance via crosstalk of ROCK2 with the DNA repair machinery in cervical cancer

Groups and Associations Pranatharthi A, Thomas P, Udayashankar AH, Bhavani C, Suresh SB, Krishna S, Thatte J, Srikantia N, Ross
J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019
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No Others Contributions details available.

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