Murray Ramanathan Jr., M.D.

Murugappan Ramanathan Jr., M.D.

Headshot of Murray Ramanathan Jr.
  • Vice Director of Clinical Operations
  • Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Specializes in: Adults (18+ years)

Male

Languages: English, Tamil

Expertise

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leaks, Chronic Sinusitis with Polyps, Complex Skull Reconstruction, Endoscopic Frontal Sinus Surgery, Esthesioneuroblastoma, Nasal Obstruction, Nasal Polyps, Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology (ENT), Paranasal Sinus Tumors, Pituitary Tumors, Revision Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Revision Frontal Sinus Surgery, Sellar Tumors, Sinonasal Inverting Papillomas, Sinus Problems, Sinusitis, Sinusitis and Nasal Polyposis, Skull Base Tumors, Suprasellar Tumors ...read more

Research Interests

Molecular and immunologic (innate and adaptive) mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps; Role of Allergy and Environmental pollutants in propagating sinonasal inflammation ...read more

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Insurance Information

Main Phone

Outside of Maryland & Washington D.C.

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International Patients

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Locations

Johns Hopkins Health Care and Surgery Center

Appointment Phone: 301-896-3332
6420 Rockledge Drive
Suite 4920
Bethesda, MD 20817
Fax: 301-530-2650
Johns Hopkins Health Care and Surgery Center - Google Maps

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Appointment Phone: 202-919-2502
5255 Loughboro Road NW
Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Proton Center, Building E
Washington, DC 20016
Sibley Memorial Hospital - Google Maps

Background

Dr. Ramanathan was born and raised in Dallas, TX, and received a bachelor's degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. He subsequently received his M.D. from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston where he graduated with highest honors and completed his internship in general surgery and residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins. Upon completion of his residency, he received additional fellowship training in advanced endoscopic sinus and minimally invasive skull base surgery at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Ramanathan serves as Director of the Greater Washington area practices for Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Chief of Otolaryngology for Suburban Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine. He evaluates patients primarily at the Johns Hopkins Healthcare and Surgery Center in Bethesda, Maryland. If indicated, he can also perform surgery at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda or at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

He maintains a very busy clinical practice primarily focused on complex revision endoscopic sinus surgery, endoscopic approaches to the orbit (DCR), and the endoscopic management of sinonasal and skull base tumors including inverted papilloma, esthesioneuroblastoma, and pituitary tumors.  Dr. Ramanathan is also the consultant rhinologist/skull base surgeon for complex sinusitis and sinonasal/skull base tumor patients at the Warren  Grant Magnuson Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.  His commitment to highly specialized patient care has been recognized by numerous awards. 

As a surgeon-scientist, Dr. Ramanathan also directs an National Institutes of Health R01 funded laboratory to study the role of air pollution in causing chronic rhinosinusitis. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious research awards and grants. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters and is frequently invited to speak about his research at national and international meetings.  

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Titles

  • Vice Director of Clinical Operations
  • Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
  • Professor of Neurosurgery

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • MD; University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine (2004)

Residencies

  • Otolaryngology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2009)

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery) (2010)

Research & Publications

Selected Publications

View all on PubMed

Mendiola M, Tharakan A, Chen M, Asempa T, Lane AP, Ramanathan M Jr. Characterization of a High Dose Ovalbumin Model of Allergic Sinonasal Inflammation. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 2016 Apr 5. doi: 10.1002/alr.21768

Tharakan A, Halderman A, Lane AP, Biswal S, Ramanathan M Jr.Reversal of Cigarette Smoke Extract Induced Sinonasal Epithelial Cell Barrier Dysfunction Through Nrf2 Activation. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 2016 Aug 31. doi: 10.1002/alr.21827

London NR, Tharakan A, Rule A, Lane AP, Biswal S, and Ramanathan M Jr. Air pollutant mediated disruption of sinonasal epithelial cell barrier function is reversed by activation of the Nrf2 pathway. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2016), doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.06.027

London NR, Tharakan A, Lane AP, Biswal S, Ramanathan M Jr. Nrf2 activation restores house dust mite induced sinonasal epithelial cell barrier dysfunction, International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 2017 May;7(5):536-541. doi: 10.1002/alr.21916

Ramanathan M Jr., London, NR Jr., Tharakan A, Surya, N., Sussan, TE, Rao, X, Lin, SY, Toskala E, Rajagopalan S, Biswal, S. Airborne particulate matter induces non-allergic eosinophilic sinonasal inflammation in mice. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2017 Feb 28. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2016-0351OC

London NR Jr, Tharakan A, Mendiola M, Sussan TE, Chen M, Dobzanski A, Lane AP, Sidhaye V, Biswal S, Ramanathan M Jr. Deletion of Nrf2 enhances susceptibility to eosinophilic sinonasal inflammation in a murine model of rhinosinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Oct 3. doi: 10.1002/alr.22222. PMID: 30281933

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Top Doctor 2022 & 2023, Washingtonian Magazine, 2022
  • Top Doctor 2023, Bethesda Magazine, 2023 - 2024
  • Prince Edmund Fowler Award for Outstanding Basic Science Thesis, Triological Society
  • Johns Hopkins Clinician Scientist Award
  • American Rhinologic Society Basic Science Research Award
  • Top Doctor Bethesda Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, 2019 - 2023
  • Top Doctor, Castle Connolly, 2019 - 2023
  • Alpha Omega Alpha
  • Triological Society Fellow

Videos & Media

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

Is air pollution causing us to lose our sense of smell? bbc.com (02/20/2023)

Region’s Top Doctors Share How to Stay Healthy, Northern Virginia magazine (2/15/23)

Fall allergies will be in full force across parts of the US, Accuweather (8/31/2021)

Fact check: No strong evidence alpha-lipoic acid helps COVID-19 loss of smell, taste, USA Today (8/31/2021)

As more people ditch their masks, summer colds increase across DC area, WUSA-TV (7/23/21)

Press release: Johns Hopkins Medicine Researchers Show How Air Pollution May Contribute to Loss of Smell (05/27/2021)

Treatment Options for Sinus Relief Webinar 

Air Pollution May Directly Cause Those Year-Round Runny Noses, According to a Mouse Study  Johns Hopkins Press Release  April 18, 2017

Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma Masquerading As Nasal Polyps Johns Hopkins Clinical Connection video 

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