Dr. Soumya Swaminathan

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is a world-renowned paediatrician and expert in tuberculosis and HIV, with a career spanning four decades in clinical care, pioneering research and leadership in public health. She also served as Director General of the ICMR from 2015-2017 and as Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO). She has been instrumental in translating scientific innovations into impactful health programs and policies.

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Swaminathan has been instrumental in establishing connections between research and health policymaking and nurturing research capacity in Indian medical institutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her visionary leadership in establishing the WHO Science Division and coordinating scientists from across the globe was critical in the setup of Cotrav, which provided equitable access to those in Low and Middle-Income Countries.

During her academic career across India, the UK, and the USA, Dr. Swaminathan has made countless contributions to science, with more than 480 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. A Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), and all major science academies in India, she has also been awarded honorary doctorates from the Karolinska Institute and McGill University, among others. Her leadership also includes board appointments at various prominent organisations devoted to tackling issues such as climate change, nutrition security, public nutrition, and sustainable food system transformations related to addressing regional and global women and children's public health outcomes.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan currently holds the position of Principal Advisor to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI.