Dr Rao is a Consultant Medical Oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers and cancers of unknown primary within the Gastrointestinal Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Dr Rao completed medical training at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School and specialist oncology training at The Royal Marsden. She undertook laboratory-based research at The Institute of Cancer Research, supported by an academic grant, examining the prognostic and predictive value of genomic profiling of tumour biopsies in oesophago-gastric cancer. 

She is The Royal Marsden's lead for cancers of unknown primary.

Her research interests include clinical trials with novel therapies in GI cancers and she is the Principal investigator and Chief investigator on a number of national and international trials with novel agents and immunotherapy.

She serves on the committees for the UK National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Colorectal Cancer and Anal-Rectal Clinical Study Groups and is an active member of the International Rare Cancers Initiative (IRCI). She serves on the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) educational faculty for GI Tumours. She sits on a number of national and international trial management groups and data monitoring committees.

Dr Rao is an active contributor to international research through peer review journals and conferences and has given invited lectures globally.

In October 2024, Dr Rao was awarded the title of Reader by the ICR in recognition for her contribution to academic excellence, teaching and leadership.