Sara Isabel Pai, MD PhD
Title(s): Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Associate Professor of Oncology
Associate Professor of Oncology
Appointment Phone:
443-997-6467
Primary Location:
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Expertise:
Head and Neck Cancers, Head and Neck Surgery, Human Papillomavirus Infections, Oral Cancers, Otolaryngology, Parathyroid Disorders, Parathyroid Surgery, Salivary Gland Disorders, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Disorders, Thyroid Surgery, Tonsillitis
Education and Experience
Training
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore MD)/ (2002)
Residencies
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore MD)/ Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (2007)
Certifications
- Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology (2008)
Locations
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
601 N. Caroline Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-502-9825
Appointment Phone: 443-997-6467
Fax: 410-614-8610
Location Map
Johns Hopkins Medicine - Green Spring Station
10751 Falls Road
Falls Concourse
Lutherville, MD 21093
Appointment Phone: 443-997-6467
Location Map
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 N. Wolfe Street
Hospital Main Entrance - Sheikh Zayed Tower
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-502-9825
Appointment Phone: 443-997-6467
Location Map
Department / Division
-
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Division of Head and Neck Surgery
Centers/Institutes
Centers / Institutes
- Head and Neck Cancer Center
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Thyroid Cancer Center
Bio
Biography
Dr. Sara Pai is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Her clinical efforts focus on the care of head and neck cancer patients, including patients with thyroid and parathyroid disorders. She has a specific interest in HPV-related head and neck cancer patients with several ongoing clinical studies focusing on this population.
Dr. Pai graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth College and, subsequently, entered the MD/PhD Program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her graduate training focused on developing vaccine therapies for HPV-related cancers, both cervical and head and neck. She completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2007.
She serves as a Principal Investigator of an HPV vaccine and immunomodulatory clinical trial. Dr. Pai directs an NIH-funded research laboratory which studies the biology of HPV-related head and neck cancers.
Dr. Pai graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth College and, subsequently, entered the MD/PhD Program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her graduate training focused on developing vaccine therapies for HPV-related cancers, both cervical and head and neck. She completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2007.
She serves as a Principal Investigator of an HPV vaccine and immunomodulatory clinical trial. Dr. Pai directs an NIH-funded research laboratory which studies the biology of HPV-related head and neck cancers.
Awards and Honors
Summa Cum Laude, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
Young Investigator''s Award, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Resident Research Award, Baltimore, Maryland
William F. Rienhoff Jr., M.D. Scholars Program, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
Young Investigator''s Award, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
Greater Baltimore Medical Center Resident Research Award, Baltimore, Maryland
William F. Rienhoff Jr., M.D. Scholars Program, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
Expertise
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Human Papillomavirus Infections
- Oral Cancers
- Otolaryngology
- Parathyroid Disorders
- Parathyroid Surgery
- Salivary Gland Disorders
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Disorders
- Thyroid Surgery
- Tonsillitis
Research
Research and Publications
Research Summary
Dr. Pais research is focused on developing therapeutic vaccines against human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancers and identifying biomarkers for the early detection of HPV-related cancers.
Journal Citations
Best, S.R.; Peng, S.; Juang, C.M.; Hung, C.F.; Hannaman, D.; Saunders, J.R.; Wu, T.C.; Pai, S.I. Administration of HPV DNA vaccine via electroporation elicits the strongest CD8+ T cell immune responses compared to intramuscular injection and intradermal gene gun delivery. Vaccine. 2009 Sep 4;27(40):5450-5459.
Chuang, C.M.; Monie, A.; Wu, A.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F. Combination of viral oncolysis and tumor-specific immunity to control established tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Jul 15;15(14):4581-4588.
Noh, K.H.; Kang, T.H.; Kim, J.H.; Pai, S.I.; Lin, K.Y.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, T.C.; Kim, T.W. Activation of Akt as a mechanism for tumor immune evasion. Mol Ther. 2009 Mar;17(3):439-447.
Tsen, S.W.; Wu, C.Y.; Meneshian, A.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, T.C. Femtosecond laser treatment enhances DNA transfection efficiency in vivo. J Biomed Sci. 2009;16:36.
Kang, T.H.; Noh, K.H.; Kim, J.H.; Bae, H.C.; Lin, K.Y.; Monie, A.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, T.C.; Kim, T.W. Ectopic expression of X-linked lymphocyte-regulated protein pM1 renders tumor cells resistant to antitumor immunity. Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 15;70(8):3062-3070.
Kim, D.; Hoory, T.; Monie, A.; Wu, A.; Hsueh, W.T.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F. Delivery of chemotherapeutic agents using drug-loaded irradiated tumor cells to treat murine ovarian tumors. J Biomed Sci. 2010;17:61.
Lyford-Pike, S.; Westra, W.H.; Loyo, M.; Peng, S.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, A.A.; Flint, P.W.; Tunkel, D.E.; Saunders, J.R.; Pai, S.I. Differential expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in juvenile and adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Histopathology. 2010 Nov;57(5):768-770.
Pai, S.I.; Tufano, R.P. Reoperation for recurrent/persistent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2010 Apr;43(2):353-363, ix.
Peng, S.; Best, S.R.; Hung, C.F.; Loyo, M.; Lyford-Pike, S.; Flint, P.W.; Tunkel, D.E.; Saunders, J.R.; Wu, T.C.; Pai, S.I. Characterization of human papillomavirus type 11-specific immune responses in a preclinical model. Laryngoscope. 2010 Mar;120(3):504-510.
Chuang CM, Monie A, Wu A, Pai SI, Hung CF. Combination of viral oncolysis and tumor-specific immunity to control established tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 July 15;15(14):4581-8.
Sedaghat AR, Zhang Z, Begum S, Westra WH, Palermo S, Best S, Ulmer KM, Levine M, Zinreich E, Messing BP, Gold D, Kowalski J, Hirata RM, Saunders JR, Pai SI. Evidence for prognostic significance of HPV status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope 2009 Aug; 119(8):1542-1549.
Best S, Peng S, Juang CM, Hung CF, Hannaman D, Saunders JR, Wu TC, Pai SI. Administration of HPV DNA vaccine using electroporation elicits stronger anti-tumor immune responses compared to intramuscular injection or gene gun delivery. Vaccine 2009 Sep 4;27(40):5450-9.
Kang TH, Noh KH, Kim, JH, Bae HC, Lin KY, Monie A, Pai SI, Hung CF, Wu TC, Kim TW. Ectopic expression of X-linked lymphocyte-regulated protein pM1 renders tumor cells resistant to anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 15;70(8):3062-70.
Kang TH, Chung JY, Monie A, Pai SI, Hung CF, Wu TC. Enhancing DNA vaccine potency by co-administration of xenogenic MHC class I DNA. Gene Ther. 2010 Apr;17(4):531-40.
Dr. Pais research is focused on developing therapeutic vaccines against human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancers and identifying biomarkers for the early detection of HPV-related cancers.
Journal Citations
Best, S.R.; Peng, S.; Juang, C.M.; Hung, C.F.; Hannaman, D.; Saunders, J.R.; Wu, T.C.; Pai, S.I. Administration of HPV DNA vaccine via electroporation elicits the strongest CD8+ T cell immune responses compared to intramuscular injection and intradermal gene gun delivery. Vaccine. 2009 Sep 4;27(40):5450-5459.
Chuang, C.M.; Monie, A.; Wu, A.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F. Combination of viral oncolysis and tumor-specific immunity to control established tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Jul 15;15(14):4581-4588.
Noh, K.H.; Kang, T.H.; Kim, J.H.; Pai, S.I.; Lin, K.Y.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, T.C.; Kim, T.W. Activation of Akt as a mechanism for tumor immune evasion. Mol Ther. 2009 Mar;17(3):439-447.
Tsen, S.W.; Wu, C.Y.; Meneshian, A.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, T.C. Femtosecond laser treatment enhances DNA transfection efficiency in vivo. J Biomed Sci. 2009;16:36.
Kang, T.H.; Noh, K.H.; Kim, J.H.; Bae, H.C.; Lin, K.Y.; Monie, A.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, T.C.; Kim, T.W. Ectopic expression of X-linked lymphocyte-regulated protein pM1 renders tumor cells resistant to antitumor immunity. Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 15;70(8):3062-3070.
Kim, D.; Hoory, T.; Monie, A.; Wu, A.; Hsueh, W.T.; Pai, S.I.; Hung, C.F. Delivery of chemotherapeutic agents using drug-loaded irradiated tumor cells to treat murine ovarian tumors. J Biomed Sci. 2010;17:61.
Lyford-Pike, S.; Westra, W.H.; Loyo, M.; Peng, S.; Hung, C.F.; Wu, A.A.; Flint, P.W.; Tunkel, D.E.; Saunders, J.R.; Pai, S.I. Differential expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in juvenile and adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Histopathology. 2010 Nov;57(5):768-770.
Pai, S.I.; Tufano, R.P. Reoperation for recurrent/persistent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2010 Apr;43(2):353-363, ix.
Peng, S.; Best, S.R.; Hung, C.F.; Loyo, M.; Lyford-Pike, S.; Flint, P.W.; Tunkel, D.E.; Saunders, J.R.; Wu, T.C.; Pai, S.I. Characterization of human papillomavirus type 11-specific immune responses in a preclinical model. Laryngoscope. 2010 Mar;120(3):504-510.
Chuang CM, Monie A, Wu A, Pai SI, Hung CF. Combination of viral oncolysis and tumor-specific immunity to control established tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 July 15;15(14):4581-8.
Sedaghat AR, Zhang Z, Begum S, Westra WH, Palermo S, Best S, Ulmer KM, Levine M, Zinreich E, Messing BP, Gold D, Kowalski J, Hirata RM, Saunders JR, Pai SI. Evidence for prognostic significance of HPV status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope 2009 Aug; 119(8):1542-1549.
Best S, Peng S, Juang CM, Hung CF, Hannaman D, Saunders JR, Wu TC, Pai SI. Administration of HPV DNA vaccine using electroporation elicits stronger anti-tumor immune responses compared to intramuscular injection or gene gun delivery. Vaccine 2009 Sep 4;27(40):5450-9.
Kang TH, Noh KH, Kim, JH, Bae HC, Lin KY, Monie A, Pai SI, Hung CF, Wu TC, Kim TW. Ectopic expression of X-linked lymphocyte-regulated protein pM1 renders tumor cells resistant to anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 15;70(8):3062-70.
Kang TH, Chung JY, Monie A, Pai SI, Hung CF, Wu TC. Enhancing DNA vaccine potency by co-administration of xenogenic MHC class I DNA. Gene Ther. 2010 Apr;17(4):531-40.
Research Interests
- Genetic alterations associated with thyroid cancers
- Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer
More Info
Languages
- English
Memberships
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Member, American Thyroid Association
Member, American Head and Neck Society
Member, American Association for Cancer Research
Member, AACR-Women in Cancer Research (WICR)
Member, Maryland Society of Otolaryngology
Member, American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
Member, American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery
Member, American Thyroid Association
Member, American Head and Neck Society
Member, American Association for Cancer Research
Member, AACR-Women in Cancer Research (WICR)
Member, Maryland Society of Otolaryngology
Member, American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
Member, American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery
Clinical Trials
- Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
- DNA vaccines
- HPV-associated head and neck cancer
Additional Resources
Facebook
Twitter
Sharecare
Blogs
YouTube
RSS
Podcasts