I am a physician-scientist, and Professor of Haematology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India. Over the past two decades, my work has focused on acute leukaemias, stem cell transplantation, and more recently, cellular and gene therapies. I have sought to combine clinical care, translational research, and education with a particular emphasis on developing innovative yet affordable therapies that can be implemented in resource-constrained settings.

After completing my specialty training in Clinical Haematology at CMC Vellore, I underwent further training in stem cell biology, leukaemia biology, and bone marrow transplantation at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA. On returning to India, I established a translational research programme that has focused on understanding the biology of acute leukaemias and translating laboratory discoveries into improved patient outcomes.

My early research centred on acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). Our group demonstrated the effectiveness of single-agent arsenic trioxide as frontline therapy for APL and subsequently conducted a series of clinical studies that helped establish arsenic-based regimens as standard treatment worldwide. This work has contributed significantly to improving outcomes while reducing the cost and complexity of therapy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

My current research interests focus on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), particularly the role of cellular metabolism and the bone marrow microenvironment in mediating drug resistance. Our laboratory has identified mechanisms through which leukaemia cells adapt their energy metabolism to survive treatment and has developed novel therapeutic approaches aimed at targeting these vulnerabilities. Several of these discoveries have progressed from the laboratory into investigator-initiated clinical trials evaluating metabolism-directed therapies in AML.

Over the last several years, I have become increasingly involved in the field of cell and gene therapy. I have had the privilege of leading efforts to develop point-of-care CAR-T cell manufacturing programmes in India and have worked to demonstrate that advanced cellular therapies can be delivered safely, effectively, and affordably outside traditional high-resource settings. My ongoing research includes optimisation of CAR-T cell therapies, development of novel cellular immunotherapies, and gene therapy approaches for inherited and acquired haematological disorders. A major focus of this work is improving global access to these transformative therapies.

Beyond research, teaching and mentorship have always been central to my professional life. I have supervised numerous doctoral students, trained generations of haematologists and transplant physicians, and remain actively involved in postgraduate medical education. For the past twenty-one years, I have served as Course Director and organiser of the Postgraduate Course in Clinical Haematology (PGCME), which has grown into one of India’s leading educational programmes in haematology.

Between 2022 and 2026, I had the privilege of serving as Director of Christian Medical College, Vellore, one of India’s largest academic medical centres. This experience reinforced my commitment to academic excellence, equitable healthcare, and the development of future leaders in medicine and science.

I have authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, serve on the editorial boards of several international journals, and am a frequent invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings. My work continues to focus on advancing scientific discovery while ensuring that innovative therapies remain accessible to the patients and communities that need them most.