Mothaffar F. Rimawi, M.D.
Dr. Rimawi is an Associate Professor of Medicine, the Medical Director of the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, and co-Leader of the Breast Cancer Research program of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (DLDCCC) at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also the Chief of Breast Oncology at Ben Taub General Hospital and Smith Specialty Clinic. He received his medical degree from the University of Jordan School of Medicine and completed his training in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Breast Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine.
His research interest is in translating laboratory findings into the clinic by designing and conducting biologically rational, biospecimen-intense clinical trials. Studying biomarkers of response and resistance on tumor samples from these trials samples helps elucidate mechanisms of therapeutic resistance and will result in more tailored treatment approaches. This approach may also identify a treatment de-escalation strategy to spare patients unnecessary toxicity and cost when possible, without compromising outcomes.
Dr. Rimawi has designed, led, and reported multiple prominent national and international trials in breast cancer with special focus on translational work in HER2+ and in ER+ breast cancer. His work helped promote dual HER2 inhibition, concurrent targeting of ER and, treatment de-escalation. He serves on multiple national clinical research leadership committees including the Breast Committee of the NRG Oncology Group and is co-Chair of the HER2 Working group of the Translational Breast Cancer Symposium (TBCRC).
