AIIMS Cardiology Professor Dr Balram Bhargava appointed ICMR Director General

New Delhi: AIIMS Cardiology professor, Padmashri Dr Balram Bhargava has been appointed as the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary of the Department of Health Research.

Dr Bharagava, at present, is the Professor of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Sciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He has been appointed to the post for a period of three years or until attainment of the age of 60 years, according to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry.

The Delhi-based ICMR is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world.

Dr Bhargava- MD, DM, FRCP (Glasg), FRCP (Edin), FACC, FAHA, FIACS, FAMS, FNASc - is an eminent cardiologist, medical educationist and innovator, known for his expertise in the trade and for his social commitment. He is also the founder and the Executive Director, Stanford India Biodesign Centre, School of International Biodesign (SIB) at AIIMS, which aimed at promoting innovators of medical technology through fellowships and guidance. The initiative is supported by  AIIMS, New Delhi and has Stanford University, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India as partners.

The Government of India honoured him, in 2014, by awarding him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contributions to the field of medicine

An innovator and visionary, Bhargava is an evaluator of indigenous low-cost cardiological stents and has developed a platinum-iridium stent himself.  His recent projects include the development of a chest compression device, deemed to be useful for patients suffering sudden cardiac arrests and is funded by Wellcome Trust.

Dr Bhargava is also the Honorary Editor-in-Chief, British Medical Journal Innovations  as well as a Member Editorial Board at Speciality Medical Dialogues

Along With Dr Bhargava, through a separate order, renowned scientist Renu Swarup has been appointed the Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology.

Swarup, currently a senior adviser in the same department, has been appointed to the post for a period of two years or until she attains 60 years of age, the ministry said.