Krishna Rao, MD

Oncologist

Cancer Care

Accepting new patients

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217-545-8000

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Languages:

English, Kannada

About me

Gender

Male

Additional languages spoken

Kannada

Education & training

Positions

Associate Professor

Board Certifications

Hematology

Medical Oncology

Medical School

University of Miami, Miami, Florida

Residency

Mayo Medical School, Rochester, Minnesota - Internal Medicine

Fellowship

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington - Hematology/Medical Oncology

Specialties

Cancer Care

Conditions

Appointments

SIU Medicine strongly encourages all patients to verify coverage, benefits and which providers are considered in-network with their health plan. SIU Medicine has more than 300 health care providers ready to serve you and your family. SIU Medicine accepts a wide variety of governmental and non-governmental health plans to serve our community.

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Clinical locations

Locations

SIU Medicine Cancer Care | Springfield

315 W. Carpenter St. Springfield, IL 62702 1st Floor, Clinic B

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Mon - Fri: 8:00 am-4:30 pm

Hospital privileges

Community Memorial Hospital, Staunton, IL
HSHS St. John's Hospital, Springfield, IL
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, IL
Memorial Health, Springfield IL

Research

Research Interests

ENT Tumors, Breast Cancer, Melanoma, Skin Cancer as well as Head and Neck Cancer.

Featured Publications

^[1] Newman KL. Standke AK. James G. Vendrov KC. Inohara N. Bergin IL. Higgins PDR. Rao K. Young VB. Kamada N. Miniature bioreactor arrays for modeling functional and structural dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel disease. 2026 Dec;18(1):2604875.
PMID: 41427586

^[2] Albin O. Garcia Z. Troost J. Weirauch A. Rao K. Thompson K. Stoneman E. Kaye K. Reductions in ventilator-associated events following implementation of a ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnostic stewardship intervention: A difference-in-difference study. 2025 Dec;():1-4.
PMID: 41404771

^[3] Unverdorben LV. Mason S. Wu W. Noda M. Castaneda S. Vornhagen J. Snitkin ES. Rao K. Bachman MA. A Novel Technique to Characterize Populations Indicates that Mono-Colonization is Associated with Risk of Infection. 2025 Nov;():.
PMID: 41292861

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Clinical trials

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

TEMPUS GEMINI NSCLC STUDY: A Longitudinal Multi-Omic Biomarker Profiling Study of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Active recruiting

This in a non-treatment biomarker study that collects blood and tumor tissue samples from patients during their standard of care treatment visit, along with health information, to determine how useful ctDNA testing is to predict risk of cancer recurrence and how treatment outcomes.

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

GS-US-600-6165: A Global, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label, Phase 3 Study of Sacituzumab Govitecan Versus Standard of Care (SOC) in Participants With Previously Treated Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC)

Active recruiting

This purposed of this study is to see how safe and effective sacituzumab govitecan is versus standard-of-care (Topotecan) for patients with previously treated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

ASND0029 "IL Believe": A Phase 1/2, Open-label, Dose Escalation and Dose Expansion Study to Investigate the Safety and Tolerability of TransCon IL-2 β/γ Alone or in Combination With Pembrolizumab, TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, or Other Anticancer Therapies, in

Active recruiting

This study is investigating experimental drugs TransCon IL-2 β/γ and TransCon TLR7/8 for the treatment of advanced/metastatic solid tumors (melanoma, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer) in adults.

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

BC-IMT-04: Randomized, Open-Label Study of the Bria-IMT Regimen and Check Point Inhibitor vs Physicians' Choice in Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer (BRIA-ABC)

Active recruiting

This is a multicenter randomized, open label study to evaluate overall survival with the Bria-IMT regimen in combination with Checkpoint Inhibitor [Retifanlimab], versus Treatment of Patients'/Physicians' Choice (TPC) in advanced metastatic or locally recurrent breast cancer (aMBC) patients with no approved alternative therapies available.

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

A Phase 1 Study of SGN-B6A in Advanced Solid Tumors

Active recruiting

This trial looks at a drug called sigvotatug vedotin (SGN-B6A) alone and with pembrolizumab, with or without chemotherapy, to find out whether it is safe for people who have solid tumors (NSCLC, HNSCC).

Trial

Urology

A Randomized Open-Label Phase 2/3 Study of BT8009 Monotherapy or in Combination in Participants with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer (Duravelo-2)

Active recruiting

The main objective of the study is to measure how safe and effective BT8009 (zelenectide pevedotin) is when used alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in participants with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (UC).

Trial

Urology

A Randomized Open-Label Phase 2/3 Study of BT8009 Monotherapy or in Combination in Participants with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer (Duravelo-2)

Active recruiting

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

EMBER-4: A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3 Study of Adjuvant Imlunestrant vs Standard Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Patients Who Have Previously Received 2 to 5 Years of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for ER+, HER2- Early Breast Cancer With an Increased Risk

Active recruiting

The main purpose of this study is to measure how well imlunestrant works compared to standard hormone therapy in participants with early breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-).

Trial

Simmons Cancer Institute

A Phase II Open-Label Study of Sacituzumab Govitecan in Unresectable Locally Advanced/Metastatic Urothelial Cancer

Active not recruiting

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy monotherapy and with novel combinations in participants with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC).