Senior Research Fellow, Laboratory Oncology Unit
Email: goel.harsh271@gmail.com, harshgoel@aiims.edu
Academic Qualifications
Ph.D (2020-2026): All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Integrated M.Tech in Biotechnology (2014-2019): Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, India
Academic Achievements and Awards
CSIR-SRF Fellowship – Awarded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India (2023).
ICMR-SRF Fellowship – Awarded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India (2022).
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship – Awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (2021).
CSIR NET-JRF Qualified – Secured All India Rank 124 (2019).
Vice Chancellor University Gold Medalist – Chaudhary Charan Singh University (2019).
International Awards and Travel Grants
JSMO Travel Grant – From the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology to present at JSMO Annual Meeting 2026, Yokohama, Japan.
ISEH Travel Grant – Supported by the International Society for Experimental Hematology to present at the ISEH 54th Annual Scientific Meeting 2025, Kumamoto, Japan.
HUGO Travel Grant – For the Human Genome Meeting 2025, Durban, South Africa.
JSMO Travel Grant – From the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology to present at JSMO Annual Meeting 2025, Kobe, Japan.
EMBL-EBI Travel Grant – To attend the Gene–Environment Interactions Course 2025, Hinxton, UK.
HSANZ Travel Grant – Awarded by the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand to present at Blood Meeting 2024, Brisbane, Australia.
KSMO Young Investigator Award – For the 17th Annual Meeting of Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO 2024), Seoul, Korea.
Global Breast Cancer Society Travel Grant – For the Global Breast Cancer Conference 2024, Seoul, Korea.
KSH Travel Grant – Awarded by the Korean Society of Hematology to present at ICKSH 2024, Seoul, Korea.
Wellcome Connecting Science Travel Grant – For the NGS Bioinformatics Asia Course 2024, Monash University, Malaysia.
SOHO Young Investigator Awards – Received for 3 consecutive years to present at the SOHO Annual Meetings 2022, 2023 & 2024, Houston, USA.
KSBMT Overseas Contribution Award – From the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation for 7th ICBMT 2023, Busan, Korea.
List of Publications
Goel H, Pandey AK, Kumar R, Kumar R, Ningombam SS, Naz F, Makkar H, Singh J, Ali S, Chopra A, Ranjan A, Gupta AK, Meena JP, Viswanathan GK, Bakhshi S, Sahoo RK, Batra A, Rath GK, Hussain S, Jha AK, Tanwar P. RNA Sequencing Identifies WT1 Overexpression as a Predictor of Poor Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel). 2025 May 29;17(11):1818. doi: 10.3390/cancers17111818. PMID: 40507300; PMCID: PMC12153777.
Naz F, Tanveer N, Verma H, Arava S, Kakkar A, Pandey S, Goel H, Ranjan A, Chopra A, Tanwar P. Histomorphology based prediction of p16 immunopositivity and p16/HPV DNA co-positivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Ann DiagnPathol. 2024 Dec;73:152389. doi: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2024.152389. Epub 2024 Oct 24. PubMed PMID: 39481322.
Awasthi S, Kumar R, Pradhan D, Rawal N, Goel H, Sahu P, Sisodiya S, Rana R, Kumar S, Dash NR, Das P, Agrawal U, Rath GK, Kaur T, Dhaliwal RS, Hussain S, Saluja SS, Tanwar P. Genomic landscape of gallbladder cancer: insights from whole exome sequencing. Int J Surg. 2024 Nov 1;110(11):6883-6897. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002031. PubMed PMID: 39166960; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11573093.
Kumar R, Goel H, Solanki R, Rawat L, Tabasum S, Tanwar P, Pal S, Sabarwal A. Recent developments in receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A promising mainstay in targeted cancer therapy. Med Drug Discov. 2024 Sep;23. doi: 10.1016/j.medidd.2024.100195. Epub 2024 Jul 1. PubMed PMID: 39281823; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11393807.
Kumar R, Awasthi S, Pradhan D, Kumar R, Goel H, Singh J, Haider I, Deo SVS, Kumar C, Srivastava A, Bhatnagar A, Kumar R, Lakshmi S, Augustine P, Ranjan A, Chopra A, Gogia A, Batra A, Mathur S, Rath GK, Kaur T, Dhaliwal RS, Mathew A, Agrawal U, Hussain S, Tanwar P. Somatic mutational landscape across Indian breast cancer cases by whole exome sequencing. Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 12;14(1):18679. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65148-4. PubMed PMID: 39134585; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11319672.
Kumar R, Kumar R, Goel H, Kumar S, Ningombam SS, Haider I, Agrawal U, Deo S, Gogia A, Batra A, Sharma A, Mathur S, Ranjan A, Chopra A, Hussain S, Tanwar P. Whole exome sequencing identifies novel variants of PIK3CA and validation of hotspot mutation by droplet digital PCR in breast cancer among Indian population. Cancer Cell Int. 2023 Oct 11;23(1):236. doi: 10.1186/s12935-023-03075-6. PubMed PMID: 37821962; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10568783.
Alam MT, Ali MS, Goel H, Singh J, Chatterjee B, Bose S, Hadda V, Chopra A. Expression Profile, Molecular Association, and Clinical Significance of POLD4 in Glioblastoma. Cell MolNeurobiol. 2023 Oct;43(7):3753-3765. doi: 10.1007/s10571-023-01393-x. Epub 2023 Aug 6. PubMed PMID: 37543966.
Goel H, Kumar R, Tanwar P, Upadhyay TK, Khan F, Pandey P, Kang S, Moon M, Choi J, Choi M, Park MN, Kim B, Saeed M. Unraveling the therapeutic potential of natural products in the prevention and treatment of leukemia. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Apr;160:114351. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114351. Epub 2023 Feb 1. Review. PubMed PMID: 36736284.
Sharan M, Jha M, Chandel R, Syeda S, Mathur R, Jha NK, Jha SK, Goel H, Shrivastava A, Chauhan S, Pamidimarri S, Jha AK. Demethylation of CADM1 and SOCS1 using capsaicin in cervical cancer cell line. NaunynSchmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2023 Apr;396(4):649-657. doi: 10.1007/s00210-022-02340-1. Epub 2022 Nov 28. PubMed PMID: 36441265.
Makkar H, Majhi RK, Goel H, Gupta AK, Chopra A, Tanwar P, Seth R. Acute myeloid leukemia: novel mutations and their clinical implications. Am J Blood Res. 2023;13(1):12-27. eCollection 2023. Review. PubMed PMID: 36937458; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10017594.
Goel H, Goyal K, Pandey AK, Benjamin M, Khan F, Pandey P, Mittan S, Iqbal D, Alsaweed M, Alturaiki W, Madkhali Y, Kamal MA, Tanwar P, Upadhyay TK. Elucidations of Molecular Mechanism and Mechanistic Effects of Environmental Toxicants in Neurological Disorders. CNS NeurolDisord Drug Targets. 2023;22(1):84-97. doi: 10.2174/1871527321666220329103610. Review. PubMed PMID: 35352654.
Dubey H, Goel H, Verma S, Gupta S, Tanwar K, Rahul E, Kapoor G, Vasantharaman J, Ranjan A, Tanwar P, Chopra A. Clinicopathological and laboratory parameters of plasma cell leukemia among Indian population. Am J Blood Res. 2022;12(6):190-195. eCollection 2022. PubMed PMID: 36742277; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9890187.
Garg G, Meenu MN, Patel K, Singh R, Gupta P, Purwar S, Mukhopadhyay S, Mishra N, Gupta S, Rawat SK, Goel H, Kumar R, Tanwar P, Singh J, Nema S, Biswas D, Trehanpati N, Singh AK, Vyas AK. Presence of entry receptors and viral markers suggest a low level of placental replication of hepatitis B virus in a proportion of pregnant women infected with chronic hepatitis B. Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 22;12(1):17795. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22699-8. PubMed PMID: 36272995; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9588053.
Goyal K, Goel H, Baranwal P, Dixit A, Khan F, Jha NK, Kesari KK, Pandey P, Pandey A, Benjamin M, Maurya A, Yadav V, Sinh RS, Tanwar P, Upadhyay TK, Mittan S. Unravelling the molecular mechanism of mutagenic factors impacting human health. Environ SciPollut Res Int. 2022 Sep;29(41):61993-62013. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-15442-9. Epub 2021 Aug 19. Review. PubMed PMID: 34410595.
Upadhyay TK, Trivedi R, Khan F, Pandey P, Sharangi AB, Goel H, Saeed M, Park MN, Kim B. Potential Therapeutic Role of Mesenchymal-Derived Stem Cells as an Alternative Therapy to Combat COVID-19 through Cytokines Storm. Cells. 2022 Aug 29;11(17). doi: 10.3390/cells11172686. Review. PubMed PMID: 36078094; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9455060.
Kumar R, Ningombam SS, Kumar R, Goel H, Gogia A, Khurana S, Deo SVS, Mathur S, Tanwar P. Comprehensive mutations analyses of FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated gene) and their effects on FTO's substrate binding implicated in obesity. Front Nutr. 2022;9:852944. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.852944. eCollection 2022. PubMed PMID: 35923209; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9339907.
Kumar R, Kumar R, Goel H, Tanwar P. Computational investigation reveals that the mutant strains of SARS-CoV2 have differential structural and binding properties. Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2022 Mar;215:106594. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106594. Epub 2021 Dec 20. PubMed PMID: 34968787; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8685290.
Upadhyay TK, Ali MI, Khan F, Goel H, Mathur M, Goyal K, Moin S, Pandey P, Tanwar P, Sharangi AB, Gautam SDC, Kapdi JK, Patel KI, Patel MV, Parmar AM, Kamal MA. Nanoparticles Mediated Target-specific Drug Delivery in Prostate Cancer: An In-depth Review. Curr Med Chem. 2022;29(24):4170-4184. doi: 10.2174/0929867329666211221112312. Review. PubMed PMID: 34939536.
Goel H, Rahul E, Gupta I, Chopra A, Ranjan A, Gupta AK, Meena JP, Viswanathan GK, Bakhshi S, Misra A, Hussain S, Kumar R, Singh A, Rath GK, Sharma A, Mittan S, Tanwar P. Molecular and genomic landscapes in secondary & therapy related acute myeloid leukemia. Am J Blood Res. 2021;11(5):472-497. eCollection 2021. Review. PubMed PMID: 34824881; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8610791.
Goel H, Gupta I, Mourya M, Gill S, Chopra A, Ranjan A, Rath GK, Tanwar P. A systematic review of clinical and laboratory parameters of 3,000 COVID-19 cases. ObstetGynecol Sci. 2021 Mar;64(2):174-189. doi: 10.5468/ogs.20174. Epub 2021 Jan 27. PubMed PMID: 33499580; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7991005.
Goel H, Mathur R, Syeda S, Shrivastava A, Jha AK. Promoter Hypermethylation of LATS1 Gene in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) among North Indian Population. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021 Mar 1;22(3):977-982. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.977. PubMed PMID: 33773564; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8286665.
Rahul E, Goel H, Chopra A, Ranjan A, Gupta AK, Meena JP, Bakhshi S, Misra A, Hussain S, Viswanathan GK, Rath GK, Tanwar P. An updated account on molecular heterogeneity of acute leukemia. Am J Blood Res. 2021;11(1):22-43. eCollection 2021. Review. PubMed PMID: 33796387; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8010602.
Goel H, Rahul E, Gupta AK, Meena JP, Chopra A, Ranjan A, Hussain S, Rath GK, Tanwar P. Molecular update on biology of Wilms Tumor 1 gene and its applications in acute myeloid leukemia. Am J Blood Res. 2020;10(5):151-160. eCollection 2020. Review. PubMed PMID: 33224559; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7675129.
Goel H, Singhal S, Mathur R, Syeda S, Gupta RK, Kumar A, Shrivastava A, Jha AK. Promoter Hypermethylation of LATS2 Gene in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) Among North Indian Population. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2020 May 1;21(5):1283-1287. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2020.21.5.1283. PubMed PMID: 32458634; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7541850.
Seminar and Conferences
Presented my research in “ISEH 54th Annual Scientific Meeting” organized by the International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH), Japan.
Presented my research in “Human Genome Meeting” organized by the Human Genome Organization (HUGO), South Africa.
Presented my research in “JSMO Annual Meeting” organized by the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO), Japan.
Presented my research in “Gene–Environment Interactions in Human Health and Disease Course” organized by EMBL-EBI, UK.
Presented my research in “Global Breast Cancer Conference” organized by the Global Breast Cancer Society, Korea.
Presented my research in “KSMO: 17th Annual Meeting and International Conference” organized by the Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO), Korea.
Presented my research in “ICKSH: KSH International Conference & 65th Annual Meeting” organized by the Korean Society of Hematology, Korea.
Presented my research in “NGS Bioinformatics Asia Course” organized by Wellcome Connecting Science, Malaysia.
Presented my research in “SOHO Annual Meeting” organized by the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO), USA.
Presented my research in “Blood Meeting” organized by the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ), Australia.
Presented my research in “7th Annual International Congress of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT)” organized by the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (KSBMT), Korea.
International Society Memberships
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – Member ID: 7225759
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) – Member ID: 1222116
Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR) – Member ID: LM/1207
Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) – Member ID: 1023275
European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) – Member ID: 617829
Peer Reviewer
MDPI
Springer Nature
Elsevier
Taylor & Francis
Frontiers
Dove Press
Collaborations & Conversations with Distinguished Researchers.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Gagandeep Kang Mam, one of the world’s foremost physician-scientists and a global leader in enteric disease research, during ESTIC 2025. Dr. Kang currently serves as the Director of Enterics, Diagnostics, Genomics, and Epidemiology at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she leads a major global health portfolio aimed at reducing the burden of enteric and diarrheal diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations. In this role, which she assumed in 2023, she oversees strategic investments in diagnostics, genomic surveillance, epidemiology, and disease modeling continuing her lifelong commitment to combating infectious diseases that disproportionately affect children in low-resource settings. Meeting Dr. Kang at ESTIC 2025 was truly inspiring. Our interaction provided deep insights into the power of integrated approaches combining diagnostics, genomics, and translational science to address complex public health challenges. Her leadership and visionary perspective reaffirm the critical importance of evidence-driven innovation in improving child health and preventing enteric diseases globally.
I had the honor of meeting Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero Sir, one of the world’s leading experts in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), during SOHO 2024. For more than 25 years, Dr. Garcia-Manero has dedicated his work to improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with leukemia, with a particular focus on understanding the biology of MDS and developing novel therapeutic strategies. He leads the largest MDS program globally and directs the MDS/AML Moon Shot® Program at MD Anderson, contributing over 1,000 publications and spearheading numerous influential clinical trials. Connecting with him and learning from his pioneering work was truly inspiring, reinforcing the importance of advancing research and innovation in the care of patients with myeloid malignancies.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Tapan Kadia Sir, Professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, during SOHO 2024. Renowned for his leadership in AML, ALL, and developmental therapeutics, Dr. Kadia has contributed extensively to advancing individualized and targeted treatment approaches in acute leukemias. With over 420 peer-reviewed publications and numerous influential clinical trials, his work continues to shape the future of leukemia care. Meeting him and learning from his vast clinical and research experience was truly inspiring, and it reinforced the importance of innovation and collaboration in improving outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Naval Daver Sir, Professor and Director of the Leukemia Research Alliance Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, during SOHO 2024. A global leader in molecular and immune-based therapies for acute myeloid leukemia, Dr. Daver spearheads more than 25 major clinical trials, including multiple registration-enabling studies that are shaping the future of AML treatment. His pioneering work in targeted, immune, and antibody-based therapies along with his extensive contributions of over 400 peer-reviewed publications continues to drive transformative advances in the field. Meeting him and discussing his visionary approach to personalized and immune-based leukemia care was truly inspiring and reinforced the importance of innovative research in improving patient outcomes.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Thomas Keane Sir, Team Leader for the European Genome–Phenome Archive (EGA) and the European Variation Archive (EVA) at EMBL-EBI, during the Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics – Asia 2024 program at Monash University. Dr. Keane plays a key strategic role in shaping global genomic data infrastructure, contributing through his leadership in EGA and EVA, his work on the GA4GH Steering Committee, and his co-leadership of the Large-Scale Genomics Workstream.Connecting with him and learning from his experience in global genomics coordination, large-scale data architecture, and advanced sequencing technologies was truly inspiring, highlighting the vital role of collaborative genomic infrastructures in accelerating scientific discovery.
I had the privilege of meeting Professor Qasim Ayub Sir, Director of the Monash University Malaysia Genomics Facility, during the Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics – Asia 2024 program at Monash University. Professor Ayub is an internationally recognized population and evolutionary genomicist whose career spans the USA, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. His contributions include establishing one of Pakistan’s first advanced molecular genetics laboratories, playing a major role in the Human Genome Diversity Project, and serving nearly a decade at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where he was part of the 1000 Genomes Project Consortium and the landmark gorilla genome sequencing team. Meeting him and learning from his vast expertise in evolutionary genomics, population genetics, and large-scale sequencing initiatives was truly inspiring, highlighting the critical importance of genomics in understanding human diversity, adaptation, and disease.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Vivek Iyer Sir, Human Genetics Informatics Team Lead at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, during the Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics – Asia 2024 program at Monash University. Dr. Iyer leads the Human Genetics Informatics (HGI) team, where he plays a central role in integrating cutting-edge computational methods and large-scale biological pipelines to support the Human Genetics faculty. Connecting with him and learning from his expertise in large-scale genomics, bioinformatics infrastructure, and innovative software development was truly inspiring, reinforcing the importance of robust computational frameworks in advancing next-generation genetic research.
I had the honor of meeting Prof. G. K. Rath Sir, one of India’s most distinguished leaders in oncology, whose visionary contributions have profoundly advanced cancer care, research, and education across the nation. Over his illustrious career, Prof. Rath has championed innovative treatment protocols, strengthened national cancer control initiatives, and emphasized the critical importance of prevention and early detection. His leadership continues to shape the direction of oncology practice and policy in India. I was also privileged to meet Dr. Pranay Tanwar Sir, Professor in the Laboratory Oncology Unit at AIIMS, New Delhi, whose work in translational cancer research and molecular oncology has been instrumental in bridging laboratory science with clinical application. Dr. Tanwar’s efforts in advancing molecular diagnostics, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentoring the next generation of cancer researchers have made him a respected figure in the oncology community. Connecting with both of them was truly inspiring, reinforcing the importance of innovation, collaboration, and sustained scientific progress in improving cancer care and patient outcomes.
I had the honor of meeting Dr. Sameer Bakhshi Sir, Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at the Dr. BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS New Delhi, during the Fortis Cancer Summit 2024. For more than two decades, Dr. Bakhshi has been dedicated to advancing the care of children and young adults with cancer, with active research contributions in leukemias, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, pediatric tumors, and supportive oncology. His extensive work in developing evidence-based treatment strategies and improving supportive care has significantly shaped pediatric and adolescent oncology practice in India. Connecting with him and learning from his deep clinical experience and research leadership was truly inspiring, reinforcing the importance of continuous innovation and compassionate care in oncology.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Anita Chopra Mam, Professor at Dr. B.R.A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (BRAIRCH), AIIMS New Delhi, whose work and dedication in the field of oncology continue to make a meaningful impact on cancer diagnosis, patient management, and academic training. Dr. Chopra has been an integral part of BRAIRCH’s clinical and academic environment, contributing to both patient care and the mentoring of young oncologists. Connecting with her was truly inspiring, offering valuable perspectives on clinical oncology practice, multidisciplinary cancer care, and the ongoing efforts to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based medicine and collaborative research.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Ganesh Kumar Viswanathan Sir, Associate Professor of Hematopathology, during JSMO 2025. Dr. Ganesh is widely recognized for his expertise in diagnostic hematopathology, with significant contributions to the understanding of hematologic malignancies through detailed morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular characterization. His research spans multiple areas within hematopathology, including lymphoma biology, leukemias, and bone marrow disorders, and his scholarly work has been featured across reputable academic platforms. His commitment to advancing hematologic diagnostics, coupled with his active involvement in research and academic training, makes him a respected figure in the field. Connecting with him at JSMO 2025 was truly inspiring, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of hematopathology and precision diagnostics.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Ritu Gupta Mam, Professor of Laboratory Oncology at AIIMS New Delhi, during ICKSH 2024. Dr. Gupta’s pioneering work focuses on uncovering the genomic and epigenomic alterations that drive disease progression and treatment response, particularly in multiple myeloma. I also had the opportunity to meet Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta Sir, Professor in the Laboratory Oncology Unit at AIIMS, whose expertise and dedication to translational cancer diagnostics further enriched our discussion. Connecting with both of them was truly inspiring, reinforcing the importance of integrating molecular science, technology, and clinical innovation to improve patient outcomes in hematologic malignancies.
I had the honor of meeting Prof. Bhudev Chandra Das Sir, Chairman and Hargobind Khorana Chair Professor at the Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), during the DST–STUTI Program at Amity University in 2022. Prof. Das is one of India’s most accomplished molecular oncologists, with an illustrious research career spanning more than 45 years in cancer biology, tumor virology, molecular genetics, and mutation research. A former Founder Director of ICMR–NICPR and Director of ACBR, University of Delhi, he played a pivotal role in pioneering HPV research in India, establishing both national and WHO regional HPV referral centers. Meeting Prof. Das and learning from his vast experience, visionary contributions, and leadership in cancer research was truly inspiring, reaffirming the power of dedicated scientific pursuit and innovation in transforming cancer prevention and treatment.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Shalini Singh Mam, Director of the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), during our validation study of an indigenous HPV test for cervical cancer screening. Her guidance and commitment to advancing women’s health were truly inspiring, and our discussion reinforced the importance of developing accessible, high-quality diagnostic solutions for cervical cancer prevention.
I had the privilege of meeting Prof. Neerja Bhatla Mam, one of India’s most accomplished gynecologists and a global leader in cervical cancer prevention, during our iHPV Training Program 2025. Dr. Bhatla, a Padma Shri awardee (2025) and the first Indian to serve as President of FIGO, has made transformative contributions to women’s healthcare. She played a pivotal role in leading the 2018 FIGO revision of cervical cancer staging, which has reshaped clinical practice worldwide. With over three decades dedicated to cervical cancer prevention, especially in low-resource settings, she has significantly advanced India’s public health strategies. Her leadership roles at AIIMS New Delhi and the National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar, along with her extensive scholarly contributions, have made her a trusted authority in gynecologic oncology. Meeting her and learning from her extraordinary vision and commitment was truly inspiring, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based prevention and equitable access to women’s cancer care.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Subhash Chandra Yadav Sir, Professor in Department of Anatomy, AIIMS New Delhi, during the Electron Microscopy Workshop 2025. His multidisciplinary expertise ranges from molecular biology and biophysics to nanobiotechnology and advanced electron microscopy. Over the years, he has contributed significantly to the establishment and advancement of cutting-edge nanobiology and imaging facilities at institutes such as CSIR-IHBT and TDNBC, New Delhi. At AIIMS, he continues to lead impactful research and training in high-resolution microscopy and nanoscale biological imaging. Connecting with him and learning from his deep experience in electron microscopy, nanotechnology, and structural biology was truly inspiring, highlighting the value of advanced imaging technologies in biomedical research.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Rahul Purwar Sir, Professor in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Bombay, during ESTIC 2025. Dr. Purwar is a leading expert in tumor immunology and cancer biomarker research, and his pioneering work continues to shape the development of next-generation immunotherapies in India. His laboratory’s contributions to T-cell biology, CAR-T cell immunogenicity, cytokine regulation, and immunotherapy innovation are reflected in numerous high-impact publications, including influential papers in Nature Medicine, Frontiers in Immunology, and Molecular Cancer Research. Connecting with him at ESTIC 2025 was truly inspiring, offering valuable insights into cutting-edge immunological approaches that are transforming the future of cancer therapy.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Neerja Bhatla, one of India’s most distinguished gynecologists and a global leader in cervical cancer prevention, during our IHPV Scientific Training Program 2025 focused on evaluating indigenous HPV testing solutions. Dr. Bhatla, a Padma Shri awardee (2025) and the first Indian to serve as President of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has dedicated more than three decades to advancing cervical cancer prevention—particularly in low-resource settings. Meeting her during our indigenous HPV testing initiative was deeply inspiring. Her insights into cervical cancer screening, public health implementation, and evidence-based strategies reaffirmed the critical importance of scalable, accessible HPV diagnostics in strengthening women’s health across India.
I had the remarkable opportunity to interact with scientists, bioinformaticians, and genomics researchers from around the world during the Genomics Asia Workshop 2024 held at Monash University. This prestigious program brought together global leaders working across diverse domains—including next-generation sequencing technologies, large-scale genomic data analysis, computational biology, human population genetics, disease genomics, and translational research—creating an exceptional platform for in-depth scientific dialogue.
Throughout the workshop, sessions were led by experts who have pioneered major genomic initiatives, contributed to international consortia, and developed cutting-edge analytical tools and biological pipelines that drive modern genomic research. Engaging with these scientists provided invaluable insights into advanced sequencing workflows, variant interpretation, functional genomics, data-driven discovery, and the challenges of handling large, complex genomic datasets at scale.
What made the experience truly enriching was the opportunity to discuss emerging trends such as single-cell genomics, long-read sequencing, CRISPR-based functional screens, evolutionary genomics, and the integration of AI/ML in biological data processing. Conversations with global researchers illuminated new possibilities for precision medicine, rare disease discovery, cancer genomics, and population-scale genomic mapping.
Participating in this workshop reinforced the importance of international collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, and shared scientific vision in propelling the field of genomics forward. Meeting and learning from such accomplished scientists across continents was deeply inspiring and continues to motivate my commitment toward advancing genomic research, innovation, and application.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Charles G. Mullighan Sir, St. Jude Faculty and Senior Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, during ICKSH 2024, where he delivered impactful insights on the latest advances in leukemia research and precision medicine. Connecting with one of the leading figures in hematologic oncology was truly inspiring, and our conversation underscored the importance of continued innovation and collaboration to improve patient outcomes.
The Tissue Basement Lab focuses on uncovering the genomic landscape of human cancers to better understand disease biology and improve patient outcomes. Under the leadership of Dr. Pranay Tanwar Sir, Dr. Anita Chopra Mam and Dr. Amar Ranjan Sir, our team investigates the molecular and genomic drivers of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Breast Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer (GBC), and other malignancies. Through integrative genomics, high-throughput sequencing, and translational research approaches, we aim to identify novel biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and pathways that contribute to cancer development, progression, and treatment response. Our work is rooted in scientific rigor, collaboration, and a commitment to advancing precision oncology.
I gratefully acknowledge the research support provided by
