MSSRF Team

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is a pediatrician and global expert in tuberculosis and HIV research. She was the first Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Previously, she was the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (2015-2017). Since February 2023, she has been the Chair of M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). She is also the Principal Advisor to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 

With over 40 years of experience in clinical care and research, Dr. Swaminathan has dedicated her career to translating vital research into impactful health programs. As the former Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research, she has prioritised integrating science into health policy-making, enhancing research capabilities in Indian medical institutions, and fostering global partnerships in public health sciences.

Dr. Swaminathan’s academic career spans India, the UK, and the US. She has authored over 480 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine, the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), and all major science academies in India. She holds honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions including the Karolinska Institute, EPFL Lausanne, and the McGill University, London. She currently co-chairs a global commission “Our Common Air” and serves on the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security.  She holds adjunct professorships at Karolinska University (Sweden) and Tufts University (US).

Currently, Dr. Swaminathan serves on the boards of Alliance Bioversity, Population Foundation of India, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Women Lift Health, among others. She is a member of the Governing Council of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, member of One Health and Climate Change Strategic Committee, Government of Tamil Nadu and Chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). 

During her tenure as WHO's first Chief Scientist, Dr. Swaminathan established a Science Division focusing on research, quality assurance of norms and standards, and digital health. She played a pivotal role in coordinating global scientific efforts and was instrumental in setting up Covax to ensure equitable vaccine distribution to low and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As MSSRF’s Chair, Dr. Swaminathan’s focus is on addressing the health impacts of climate change, especially on women and children; and food system transformations to strengthen nutrition security in India and South Asia. Her biography, At The Wheel of Research, was published in 2024.

*Please see the respective programme / regional centres web sections for names and bios of all key team members.