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FACULTY

Yazmin Odia, MD, MS, MBA, FAAN

Kelsey Bradley Favrot Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology

Neurosurgery

Academic Office:

LSUHSC School of Medicine 
2021 Perdido Street
CALS 8244
New Orleans LA 70112

 

Bio

Yazmín Odia, MD, MS, MBA, FAAN, is a neuro-oncologist and clinical trialist who has served as principal investigator for more than 30 clinical trials and translational studies and has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles. She is board-certified in Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in Neuro-Oncology by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties.

At LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. Odia serves as Director of Neuro-Oncology and Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosurgery. She holds the Kelsey Bradley Favrot Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology and serves as Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Office for the LSU-LCMC Health Cancer Center, within the Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology and the Stanley S. Scott Center for Cancer Research.

A Chicago Honor Scholar, Dr. Odia earned her Bachelor of Arts and medical degree from the University of Chicago and a Master of Science in Clinical Research from Mayo Graduate School. She completed her neurology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she served as co-chief resident, followed by a clinical and research fellowship in the Neuro-Oncology Branch of the National Institutes of Health. She later earned a Professional MBA in Healthcare Policy and Management from Florida International University.

Before joining LSU, Dr. Odia served as Chief of Neuro-Oncology and Director of the Brain Tumor Program at Miami Cancer Institute. Her work integrates multidisciplinary patient care, clinical-trial leadership, translational research, and physician development. Her research focuses on novel therapies for gliomas, meningiomas, brain metastases, and other primary central nervous system tumors, with interests in precision medicine, treatment-related complications, and expanding access to clinical trials.

Dr. Odia has held national leadership roles with the American Academy of Neurology, including service on its Leadership Development Committee and leadership of diversity and career-development initiatives. She also serves on scientific and research committees in neuro-oncology and experimental neurotherapeutics. Her honors include awards for humanism, teaching, research, and leadership, as well as repeated recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.

Education

Florida International University, College of Business Administration
Professional MBA in Healthcare Policy and Management
Miami, Florida  |  2025

Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Chicago, Illinois  |  2006

Mayo Graduate School
Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Research
Rochester, Minnesota  |  2005

The College, The University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology, Neurobiology Specialization
Chicago, Illinois  |  2000

Postdoctoral and Clinical Training

Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Institutes of Health
Clinical and Research Fellow, National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Bethesda, Maryland  |  2010-2013

Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Neurology
Neurology Resident; Co-Chief Resident, 2009-2010
Baltimore, Maryland  |  2007-2010

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Department of Medicine
Medical Intern, PGY-1
Baltimore, Maryland  |  2006-2007

Columbia University Medical Center, Mailman School of Public Health
Columbia Summer Research Institute
New York, New York  |  2013

Board Certification
  • Neuro-Oncology: United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS), certified through 2028
  • Neurology: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), certified through 2028

Additional Professional Credentials
  • Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Business Leaders Micro-Credential, FIU
  • Advanced Certificate in Healthcare Policy Consulting, Florida International University
  • Advanced Healthcare Research Certificate, Florida International University
  • Certificate in Healthcare Marketing, Florida International University
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, 2025; Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, 2024

Recent and Selected Research Support

HWCOM/BHSF Pilot Project Grant Award AWD#18176
Advanced Screening of Novel Compounds to Target Glioblastoma Stem Cells
Role: Co-Principal Investigator  |  $75,000  |  2025-2026

Neuroscience Research Fund, Baptist Health Hospital
Biomarker Correlative Study of the ONC014 Trial
Role: Investigator  |  $40,000  |  2018-2019

Matheson Foundation, Columbia University
Pilot Study for Junior Faculty
Role: Awardee  |  $50,000  |  2015-2016

National Institutes of Health Intramural Loan Repayment Program
Clinical research support
Role: Awardee  |  $35,000 annually  |  2010-2013

NINDS Research Education Program for Residents and Fellows in Neurology and Neurosurgery
Research education support, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Role: Resident Research Trainee  |  NIH R25 support  |  2009-2010

NIH/NIGMS Initiative for Minority Student Development
Clinical Research Training Program, Mayo Graduate School
Role: Graduate Research Trainee  |  NIH R25 support  |  2003-2005

Selected Investigator-Initiated Trial Support

ADORATION (2022-KOT-002)
Phase I/II study of azeliragon combined with stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases
Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  |  2023-present

2020-KOT-002
Phase II study of cabozantinib for recurrent or progressive meningioma
Exelixis, Inc.  |  2022-present

MCI 2017-ODI-002 / BMS CA209-9Y8
Phase I/II study of tumor treating fields and nivolumab with or without ipilimumab for bevacizumab-naive recurrent glioblastoma
Bristol Myers Squibb and Novocure support  |  2017-2020

Publications

Selected peer-reviewed publications

Dr. Odia has authored or co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications. The selections below highlight recent and representative work in neuro-oncology, clinical trials, brain metastases, diffuse midline glioma, meningioma, and leptomeningeal disease.

Original, Peer-Reviewed Articles: (†=corresponding author)

  1.  Akdemir EY, DiStefano J, Reyes TC, Odia Y, Press RH, Hall MD, Wieczorek DJ, Lee YC, Tolakanahalli R, Gutierrez AN, McDermott MW, Mehta MP, Kotecha R. Feasibility and utility of a tablet-based digital neurocognitive assessment following radiosurgery for brain metastases. Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 14;16(1):17421. PMID: 41981213.
  2.  Bagley SJ, Umemura Y, Mendez JS, Arrillaga-Romany I, Bielamowicz KJ, Butowski N, Hutchins K, Kong X-T, Odia Y, Sharma A, Weintraub L, Koschmann C, Wen PY, Saratsis AM, Brundage T, Ramage SC, Tarapore RS, Knowles T, Yang D, Allen JE, Cloughesy T. Prognostic Features of Recurrent Midline and H3 K27M-Mutant Glioma. Cancers. 2025; 17(13):2107. PMID: 40647406
  3.  Yarlagadda S, Belnap S, Candela J, Kutuk T, Reyes TC, Ramirez Menendez M, Hall M, Press R, Odia Y, Mehta M, McDermott M, Kotecha R. Correlation Between Neurocognitive Outcomes and Neuroaxonal Connectome Alterations After Whole Brain Radiotherapy: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Cancers (Basel). 2025 May 23;17(11):1752. PMID: 40507233
  4.  Bernstock JD, Mehari M, E Gerstl JV, Meredith DM, Valdes PA, Heesen P, Ambati VS, Krishna S, Chen JA, Arora H, Johnston BR, Negussie M, Grieco K, Nava Gonzales C, Dada A, Lebouille-Veldman AB, Kabir A, Spanehl L, Kaur J, Oten S, Sibih YE, Mekary RA, Daniel A, de Groot JF, Izzy S, Gessler FA, Stone S, Arnaout O, Lu Y, Choi BD, Hall MD, Mehta MP, Odia Y, Friedman GK, Chiocca EA, Peruzzi PP, Smith TR, Hervey-Jumper SL. Gabapentinoids confer survival benefit in human glioblastoma. Nat Commun.2025 May 15;16(1):4483. PMID: 40374596
  5.  Gal O, Yu J, Mehta MP, Hall MD, Press RH, Odia, Y, McDermott MW, Fellows Z, Wroe A, Gutierrez AN, Kotecha R. (2025). Contrast-enhancing Lesions Induced by Central Nervous System-directed Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy: Distribution Patterns, Kinetics, Risk Factors, and Outcomes. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.2025 Jul 1;122(3):621-630. PMID: 40154845
  6.  Gal O, La Rosa A, Hall MD, Press RH, Fellows Z, Wroe AJ, Gutierrez AN, Odia Y, Mehta MP, Kotecha, R. (2025). Proton Craniospinal Irradiation for Patients with Solid Tumor Leptomeningeal Disease: Real-World Feasibility, Toxicity, and Outcome Analysis. Cancers, 2025 Mar 20;17(6):1046. PMID: 40149379
  7.  Kotecha R, Akdemir EY, Kutuk T, Ilgin C, Ahluwalia MS, Bi WL, Blakeley J, Dixit KS, Dunn IF, Galanis E, Galldiks N, Huang RY, Johnson DR, Kaley TJ, Kamson DO, Kurz SC, McDermott MW, Odia Y, Preusser M, Raizer J, Reardon DA, Rogers CL, Ruda R, Schiff D, Vogelbaum MA, Weller M, Wen PY, Mehta MP. Benchmarking the Efficacy of Salvage Systemic Therapies for Recurrent Meningioma: A RANO Group Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Guide Clinical Trial Design. Neuro Oncol. 2025 Jan 14:noaf009. PMID: 39807850
  8.  Akdemir EY, Gurdikyan S, Rubens M, Abrams KJ, Sidani C, Chaneles MC, Hall MD, Press RH, Wieczorek DJ, Tolakanahalli R, Gutierrez AN, Gal O, La Rosa A, Kutuk T, McDermott MW, Odia Y, Mehta MP, Kotecha R. Efficacy of 3D-TSE Sequence-based Radiosurgery in Prolonging Time to Distant Intracranial Failure: A Session-wise Analysis in a Histology-Diverse Patient Cohort. Neuro Oncol. 2024 Nov 2:noae232. PMID: 39492654
  9.  Appel HR, Rubens M, Roy M, Kotecha R, Hall MD, Mehta MP, Mohler A, Chen Z, Ahluwalia MS, Odia Y.† Comparative evaluation of the diagnostic and prognostic performance of CNSide™ versus standard cytology for leptomeningeal disease. Neurooncol Adv. 2024 May 10;6(1):vdae071. PMID: 38957163
  10.  Odia Y, Koschmann C, Vitanza NA, de Blank P, Aguilera D, Allen J, Daghistani D, Hall M, Khatib Z, Kline C, MacDonald T, Mueller S, Faison SL, Allen JE, Naderer OJ, Ramage SC, Tarapore RS, McGovern SL, Khatua S, Zaky W, Gardner SL. Safety and pharmacokinetics of ONC201 (dordaviprone) administered two consecutive days per week in pediatric patients with H3 K27M-mutant glioma. Neuro Oncol. 2024 May 3;26(Supp_2):S155-S164. PMID: 38400780
  11.  Odia Y,† Hall MD, Cloughesy TF, Wen PY, Arrillaga-Romany I, Daghistani D, Mehta MP, Tarapore RS, Ramage SC, Allen JE. Selective DRD2 antagonist and ClpP agonist ONC201 in a recurrent non-midline H3 K27M-mutant glioma cohort. Neuro Oncol. 2024 May 3;26(Supplement_2):S165-S172. PMID: 38386699
  12.  Arrillaga-Romany I, Gardner SL, Odia Y, Aguilera D, Allen JE, Batchelor T, Butowski N, Chen C, Cloughesy T, Cluster A, de Groot J, Dixit KS, Graber JJ, Haggiagi AM, Harrison RA, Kheradpour A, Kilburn LB, Kurz SC, Lu G, MacDonald TJ, Mehta M, Melemed AS, Nghiemphu PL, Ramage SC, Shonka N, Sumrall A, Tarapore RS, Taylor L, Umemura Y, Wen PY. ONC201 (Dordaviprone) in Recurrent H3 K27M-Mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma. JCO 2024 May 1;42(13):1542-1552. PMID: 38335473
  13.  Dun MD, Odia Y,† Arrillaga-Romany I. Diffuse midline glioma, H3K27-altered: Illuminating the dark side of the moon. Neuro Oncol. 2024 May 3;26(Supplement_2):S89-S91. PMID: 38108088
  14.  Venneti S, Kawakibi AR, Ji S, Waszak SM, Sweha SR, Mota M, Pun M, Deogharkar A, Chung C, Tarapore RS, Ramage S, Chi A, Wen PY, Arrillaga-Romany I, Batchelor TT, Butowski NA, Sumrall A, Shonka N, Harrison RA, de Groot J, Mehta M, Hall MD, Daghistani D, Cloughesy TF, Ellingson BM, Beccaria K, Varlet P, Kim MM, Umemura Y, Garton H, Franson A, Schwartz J, Jain R, Kachman M, Baum H, Burant CF, Mottl SL, Cartaxo RT, John V, Messinger D, Qin T, Peterson E, Sajjakulnukit P, Ravi K, Waugh A, Walling D, Ding Y, Xia Z, Schwendeman A, Hawes D, Yang F, Judkins AR, Wahl D, Lyssiotis CA, de la Nava D, Alonso MM, Eze A, Spitzer J, Schmidt SV, Duchatel RJ, Dun MD, Cain JE, Jiang L, Stopka SA, Baquer G, Regan MS, Filbin MG, Agar NYR, Zhao L, Kumar-Sinha C, Mody R, Chinnaiyan A, Kurokawa R, Pratt D, Yadav VN, Grill J, Kline C, Mueller S, Resnick A, Nazarian J, Allen JE, Odia Y,† Gardner SL, Koschmann C. Cancer Discovery. 2023 Nov;13(11), 2370–2393. PMID 37584601; 40025951 (Cited in Newsweek)
  15.  Gardner SL, Tarapore RS, Allen J, McGovern S, Zaky W, Odia Y, et al. Phase I dose escalation and expansion trial of single agent ONC201 in recurrent or refractory pediatric diffuse midline gliomas. Neuro-Oncology Advances. 2022 Sep 13;4(1):vdac143. PMID 36382108
  16.  Odia Y,† Cavalcante L, Safran H, Powell SF, Munster PN, Ma WW, Carneiro BA, Bastos BR, Mikrut S, Mikrut W, Giles FJ, Sahebjam S. Malignant glioma subset from actuate 1801: Phase I/II study of 9-ING-41, GSK-3β inhibitor, monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy for refractory malignancies. Neurooncol Adv. 2022 Feb 7;4(1):vdac012. PMID: 35402914
  17.  Tonse R, Rubens M, Appel H, Tom MC, Hall MD, Odia Y, McDermott MW, Ahluwalia MS, Mehta MP, Kotecha R. Systematic review and meta-analysis of lung cancer brain metastasis and primary tumor receptor expression discordance. Discov Oncol. 2021 Nov 8;12(1):48. PMID 35201504.
  18.  Cantor E, Wierzbicki K, Tarapore RS, Ravi K, Thomas C, Cartaxo R, Yadav VN, Ravindran R, Bruzek AK, Wadden J, John V, Babila CM, Cummings JR, Kawakibi AR, Ji S, Ramos J, Paul A, Walling D, Leonard M, Robertson P, Franson A, Mody R, Garton HJL, Venetti S, Odia Y, Kline C, Vitanza NA, Khatua S, Mueller S, Allen JE, Gardner S, Koschmann C. Serial H3K27M cell-free tumor DNA (cf-tDNA) tracking predicts ONC201 treatment response and progression in diffuse midline glioma. Neuro Oncol. 2022 Aug 1;24(8):1366-1374. PMID 35137228.
  19.  Kotecha RR, Tonse R, Rubens M, McDermott MW, Odia Y, Appel H, Mehta MP. Systematic Review and Meta- analysis of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis and Primary Tumor Receptor Expression Discordance. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 2021 Jan 16;3(1). PMID 33898990
  20.  Arrillaga-Romany I, Odia Y, Prabhu VV, Tarapore RS, Merdinger K, Stogniew M, Oster W, Allen JE, Mehta M, Batchelor T, Wen PY. Biological Activity of Weekly ONC201 in Adult Recurrent Glioblastoma Patients. Neuro Oncol. 2020 Jan 11;22(1):94-102. PMID 31702782
  21.  Safdieh JE, Govindarajan R, Gelb DJ, Odia Y, Soni M. Core Curriculum Guidelines for a Required Clinical Neurology Experience. Neurology. Neurology. 2019 Mar 26;92(13):619-626. PMID 30796141
  22.  Juratli TA, Jones PS, Wang N, Subramanian M, Aylwin SJB, Odia Y, Rostami E, Gudjonsson O, Shaw BL, Cahill DP, Galanis E, Barker FG 2nd, Santagata S, Brastianos PK. Targeted treatment of papillary craniopharyngiomas harboring BRAF V600E mutations. Cancer. 2019 Sep 1;125(17):2910-2914. PMID 31314136
  23.  Odia Y.† Gangliocytomas and Gangliogliomas: Review of Clinical, Pathologic and Genetic Features. Clinics in Oncology 2016; 1:1017. Invited Submission [Indexing]
  24.  Odia Y,† Sul J, Shih JH, Kreisl TN, Butman JA, Iwamoto F, Fine HA. A phase II trial of investigational agent tandutinib in combination with bevacizumab for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. CNS Oncology, 2016 Apr;5(2):59-67. PMID 26860632
  25.  Odia Y,† Iwamoto FM, Moustakas A, Fraum TJ, Salgado CA, Li A, Kreisl TN, Sul J, Butman JA, Fine HA. Phase II Trial of Enzastaurin (LY317615) in Combination with Bevacizumab in Adults with Recurrent Malignant Gliomas. J Neuro-Oncology, 127(1), 127-135, Mar 2016. PMID 26643807
  26.  Odia Y,† Kreisl TN, Aregawi D, Innis E, Fine HA. A phase II trial of tamoxifen and bortezomib in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. Journal of Neuro-Oncology 125(1):191-5, Oct 2015. PMID 26285768
  27.  Odia Y,† Shih, J, Kreisl TN, Fine HA. Bevacizumab-related toxicities in the National Cancer Institute malignant glioma trial cohort. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 120(2):431-40, Nov 2014. PMID 25098701
  28.  Odia Y, Orr BA, Bell WR, Eberhart CG, Rodriguez F. cMYC expression in infiltrating gliomas: associations with idh1 mutations, age, tumor grade, and outcome. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 115(2):249-59, Nov 2013. PMID 23934175
  29.  Heaphy CM, Schreck KC, Raabe E, Mao XG, An P, Chu Q, Poh W, Jiao Y, Rodriguez FJ, Odia Y, Meeker AK, Eberhart CG. A glioblastoma neurosphere line with alternative lengthening of telomeres. Acta Neuropathologica, 126(4):607-8, Oct 2013. PMID 24022427
  30.  Nguyen DN, Heaphy CM, de Wilde RF, Orr BA, Odia Y, Eberhart CG, Meeker AK, Rodriguez FJ. Molecular and morphologic correlates of the alternative lengthening of telomeres phenotype in high grade astrocytomas. Brain Pathology, 23(3):237-43, May 2013. PMID 22928601

Full Publication List: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3602-3899

Research Interests

Clinical and translational neuro-oncology

Novel therapeutics and clinical trials for primary central nervous system tumors
Early- and late-phase studies of targeted agents, immunotherapies, drug-device combinations, and other innovative treatment strategies.

Glioblastoma and other high-grade gliomas
Biomarker-driven treatment, recurrent disease, tumor treating fields, blood-brain barrier disruption, and rational combination therapies.

Diffuse midline glioma and H3 K27-altered glioma
Clinical development of dordaviprone/ONC201 and related approaches in adult and pediatric populations.

Meningioma
Systemic therapy and clinical-trial development for recurrent or progressive disease, including cabozantinib and other targeted strategies.

Brain metastases
Integration of systemic therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, surgically targeted radiation therapy, and neurocognitive outcome assessment.

Leptomeningeal disease
Improved diagnosis, liquid-biopsy approaches, prognostic assessment, and treatment of neoplastic meningitis.

Precision medicine and translational biomarkers
Molecular profiling, circulating and cerebrospinal-fluid tumor DNA, imaging biomarkers, and correlative science embedded within clinical trials.

Treatment-related complications and survivorship
Radiation necrosis, neurocognitive effects of therapy, neurologic complications of novel cancer treatments, rehabilitation needs, and quality of life.

Clinical-trial access and workforce development
Strategies to improve diversity in research participation, strengthen community neuro-oncology, and develop future leaders in the field.