Sanaz Memarzadeh, MD, PhD
- Gynecologic Oncology
About
Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist with over 20 years of experience. She is an accomplished surgeon and is skilled in gynecologic cancer surgeries (ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vulvar/vaginal cancers), robotic and minimally invasive operations. Compassionate and adept, she specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of all pre-invasive and invasive gynecologic diseases. She serves patients at UCLA and women Veterans at the West Los Angeles VA hospital. Beyond clinical care of patients, Dr. Memarzadeh is dedicated to leading-edge research to discover new and more effective treatment options for patients impacted with gynecologic cancers.
After the conclusion of her formal residency at the UCLA Medical Center, she continued at UCLA completing a specialized three-year fellowship training in gynecologic oncology. This fellowship is designed to meet the subspecialty requirements of the Gynecologic Oncology Division of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Following the completion of her fellowship training, she went to earn a Ph.D. in the department of Molecular Biology at UCLA. In addition to being a skilled surgeon, maintaining an active clinical practice, and caring for her patients, she is the Director of the G.O. Discovery Laboratory in the Broad Stem Cell Research Center at UCLA. This independent research laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular pathways of gynecologic cancers and developing new, more effective therapies to help patients. This includes characterizing therapy resistant ovarian cancer tumor cells with the goal of therapeutic targeting of these tumors first experimentally and then implementation in clinical trials. She also has an interest in understanding the causes of uterine cancers including endometrial carcinosarcoma and uterine sarcomas. Her research team focuses on studying genetic pathways that can initiate these tumors, and ways to better target them. On the forefront of translating Gynecologic cancer research to the therapy of patients, she has been awarded multiple funding sources for her work, including the Reproductive Scientist Developmental Grant, the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation Grant, a Gynecologic Cancer Foundation award, and the STOP CANCER award. Dr. Memarzadeh has authored many published articles in respected journals and textbook chapters.
Dr. Memarzadeh is dedicated to teaching the next generation of physicians and scientists, holding a tenured position as a Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She has received acknowledgments for her capability as a teacher including the APGO Excellence in Teaching Award. She takes a personal role in helping all those who work with her to learn as much as they can with the goal of advancing the field of women's gynecologic cancer care.
Dr. Memarzadeh currently maintains staff and operating room privileges at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. She is readily available for consultations and is accepting new patients seeking care in all aspects of gynecologic cancer or pre-cancerous diseases. If you are interested in making an appointment, please call (310) 794-7274.
Positions
- Professor with Tenure and Gynecologic Cancer Surgeon, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Professor, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, at the David Geffen School of Medicine
- Director, G.O. Discovery Laboratory, UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center
- Gynecologic Oncology Staff and Gynecologic Cancer Surgeon, VA Hospital, West Los Angeles
- Affiliate Oncologist, The Ovarian Cancer Circle Inspired by Robin Babbini
Research Location
G.O. Discovery Lab, 3017 Terasaki Life Sciences Building
610 Charles E. Young Drive East
Los Angeles, California 90095
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certifications
Fellowship
Residency
Internship
Degrees
Recognitions
- Super doctors, Southern California, 2024
- Super Doctors® Southern California, 2020-2024
- STAR Distinguished Alumni Award, 2023
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2018, 2021-2023
- See More
Locations
Hospital Affiliations
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Medical Services
Areas of Focus
Videos
Research
Interests
The goal at the G.O. Discovery Laboratory is to improve the way we treat patients with gynecologic cancers. As part of this goal, they are looking for effective and better tolerated therapies for these diseases, including ovarian cancer and endometrial cancers.
Explore unique cell types in ovarian and endometrial cancers causing relapse of disease and chemo resistance.
Despite standard treatments ovarian and endometrial cancers can recur. With recurrent disease tumors may be more resistant to chemotherapy. The GO Discovery Lab works to understand and characterize the unique tumor cell types that may be responsible for recurrence of disease. Characterizing these cells can unlock unique vulnerabilities to be exploited in therapeutic targeting and eradication of these cells.
High throughput drug screening and testing drug combinations using disease in a dish model to overcome ovarian cancer platinum resistance.
Beyond identification of therapy resistant tumor cells, the GO Discovery Lab is exploring novel treatments alone and in combination with chemotherapy for targeting these tumor cells. They utilize high throughput drug screening assays with tumor organoid models. To achieve these goals, they have developed physiologically relevant disease models called patient derived xenografts (PDXs). Discovering and testing novel therapeutics using these strategies can help provide alternative therapies for treating patients.
Targeting therapy resistant ovarian cancers with cell-based immunotherapies using novel off the shelf immune cells such as iNKT and super charge NK cells.
Another way the GO Discovery Lab works towards targeting therapy resistant ovarian cancers is through cell-based immunotherapies. With their collaborators, they strive to test the efficacy of novel off-the-shelf immune cells in targeting ovarian or endometrial tumors and the immunosuppressive microenvironment that surrounds these cells. They hope to test the efficacy of these treatments in future clinical trials.
Defining the cellular lineage and therapeutic targets in ovarian and uterine carcinosarcomas.
The GO Discovery Lab also focuses on better understanding ovarian and uterine carcinosarcomas which tend to have an aggressive clinical behavior. They are working to characterize actionable therapeutic targets within this gynecologic cancer subtype. They are utilizing their pre-clinical models to explore novel therapeutics to reduce disease burden for patients impacted with this disease.
Dr. Memarzadeh is the recipient of various federal, foundational, and philanthropic grants. The GO Discovery lab is funded by the Broad Stem Cell Research Center, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, National Institute of Health, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, as well as philanthropic support from The Ovarian Cancer Circle: Inspired by Robin Babbini.
Please see current grants below:
- California Institute of Regenerative Medicine – TRAN1-16050 (Memarzadeh Co-I). 9/1/2024 - 2/28/2027 (Pending JiT) $6,312,000:
Combating Ovarian Cancer via HSC-Engineered Off-The-Shelf CAR-NKT Cell Therapy. - National Institute of Health R01 (Memarzadeh Contact PI). 7/2/2024 – 06/30/2029. $3,400,000:
Targeting alternative isoform variation for TCR discovery in platinum-resistant, ovarian cancer. - VA-ORD - VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (Memarzadeh PI), 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2027. $1,200,000:
BCCMA: Overcoming chemoresistance in ovarian cancer: Targeting Unique Vulnerabilities in Neuroendocrine-like Ovarian Cancer Cells. - VA-ORD - VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (Memarzadeh PI) , 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2028. $709,980:
Exploring super charged NK cells as a novel cell-based immune therapy in targeting platinum resistant ovarian cancers. - California Institute of Regenerative Medicine – DISC2 13035 (Memarzadeh Co-I), 8/1/2022 – 7/31/2024. $1,404,000
Combating Ovarian Cancer Using Stem Cell-Engineered Off-The-Shelf CAR-iNKT Cells. - The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (Memarzadeh Co-I) , 1/1/2023-12/31/2025. $750,000
Tracking and reactivating humoral immunity through systems serology.
In the News
- Physician-scientist awarded two grants to develop immune therapies for ovarian cancer (Source: UCLA Health Newsroom)
- Ovarian Cancer Circle Founder Paulinda Babbini Featured (Source: Larchmont Buzz)
- 2023 STAR Distinguished Alumni Award - Sanaz Memarzadeh, MD, PhD (Source: UCLA Health Newsroom)
- Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh awarded $1.2 million to study recurrent ovarian cancer (Source: UCLA Newsroom)
- Scientists develop roadmap to create new treatment strategies for ovarian cancer (Source: UCLA Health Newsroom)
- Dr. Memarzadeh and Members of The Ovarian Cancer Circle were joined by Councilmember Kevin de León to bring awareness about Ovarian Cancer (Source: Channel 35 News)
- Investigative Directions in Ovarian Cancer Continue to Comprise Multidisciplinary Approaches (Source: OncLive)
- Ovarian Cancer and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know (Source: Everyday Health)
- Dr. Memarzadeh on p53 Reactivation in Ovarian Cance (Source: OncLive)
- Sanaz Memarzadeh, MD, PhD. UCLA Health Community Lectures. Ovarian Cancer: Standard of Care and Beyond UCLA Health
- Is Talcum Powder Safe? (Source: Today Show, Feb 2016)
- Full Frame: Impact of 'Jolie effect' on genetic testing for breast, ovarian cancer (Source: CCTV America)
- Challenges in the Treatment of Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers (Source: OncLive)
- Dr. Memarzadeh on Hormonal Therapy for Endometrial Tumors (Source: OncLive)
- Local Mother On A Mission To Raise Funds For Ovarian Cancer Research After Losing Daughter To The Disease (Source: CBS LA)
- Genetic Testing to Identify Potential Ovarian Cancer Risk (Source: UCLA Health Vital Signs)
- Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh: An Early Passion for Research (Source: UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center)
- Hormonal Treatment in Low Estrogen Environment (Source: UCLA Newsroom)
Note: News website links may expire without notice.
Insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Centivo
- Cigna
- First Health
- Health Net of California
- Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
- L.A. Care
- Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan
- UFCM Health System
- Prime Health Services
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change.
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.
Visit our health insurance information page for more details.
Recognitions
- Super Doctors® Southern California, 2020-2024
- STAR Distinguished Alumni Award, 2023
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2018, 2021-2023
- West Hollywood City Council Certificate of Recognition for outstanding service, commitment, and accomplishments in ovarian cancer research (2020)
- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognition for ovarian cancer research and awareness (2020)
- Department of Veterans Affairs Research Merit Award (2019)
- Los Angeles City Council recognition for commitment to ovarian cancer research (2017)
- APGO Excellence in Teaching Award (2014)
- Research gift from the Leah L. and Marcia L. Millen Charitable Gift Fund (2013 & 2015 & 2018)
- UCLA CTSI Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Award (2011)
- Research gift from the Ovarian Cancer Circle/Inspired by Robin Babbini (2011-2020)
- STOP Cancer Research Career Development Award (2010 & 2015)
- Research gift from the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Greater California (2009)
- Gynecologic Cancer Foundation/St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness Research Award (2008)