Ritesh Parajuli

Dr. Ritesh Parajuli serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, where he specializes in Hematology/Oncology with a focus on breast cancer management. He holds key leadership roles including Co-chair of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center's Breast Cancer Disease-oriented Team and Medical Director of the Chemotherapy Infusion Center.

His educational background includes an MD from Manipal College of Medical Sciences (Nepal), Internal Medicine residency at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Parajuli's research centers on translational applications of liquid biopsy biomarkers including circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, and cancer-associated fibroblasts for breast cancer prognosis and treatment selection.

His clinical trial portfolio demonstrates significant expertise in breast cancer therapeutics, with leadership roles in 9 active trials spanning phase I-III investigations of novel targeted agents, immunotherapies, and biomarker-driven treatment strategies. These studies address critical challenges in triple-negative breast cancer, endocrine resistance, and precision adjuvant therapy.

As a principal investigator, Dr. Parajuli has secured multiple intramural and extramural research grants supporting his work in biomarker development and clinical trial design. His multidisciplinary approach integrates laboratory discoveries with clinical applications through the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center's breast disease team, which develops innovative trial concepts and fosters translational research pipelines.