Dr. Maitra is the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Pathology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, where he also serves as Co-Director of the GI Cancer Center, and Associate Director of Translational Research at Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health (since September 1, 2025).

Previously, Dr. Maitra was Professor of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology, and Scientific Director of the Sheikh Ahmed Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston (August 2013-August 2025). Dr. Maitra is the Principal Investigator of an NCI-funded laboratory dedicated to pancreatic cancer research. Dr. Maitra has trained over four dozen postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, many of whom are now in independent faculty positions in the United States or worldwide. The arc of his research career has been defined by contributions made in the spheres of genetics and molecular pathology of pancreatic cancer and its precursor lesions, in both human and cognate mouse models of pancreatic neoplasia.

Dr. Maitra is deeply committed towards identifying and implementing translational research opportunities in pancreatic cancer that can improve the survival of patients stricken with this disease, with a particular focus on early detection and cancer interception. Dr. Maitra has been a leader on numerous programmatic efforts in pancreatic cancer, funded through both the NCI and foundations such as the Lustgarten Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer, and Breakthrough Cancer.