CMC Professor Dr Gagandeep Kang elected as member of US-based National Academy of Medicine

Vellore: Recognizing her hard work towards child health, The US-based National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has selected Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor and microbiologist at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, as a member of its 2022 batch. 

She has been selected for her outstanding contributions to understanding and improving child health through her research in enteric infectious diseases and vaccinology over decades benefiting children in India and low- and middle-income countries, and more recently to vaccine science, vaccination policy, and communication during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

This year, Dr Kang is the only person from Asia among the 100 members to be invited by the current class members. Vikram Mathews, Director, CMC, congratulated Dr Kang on her achievement.

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"Thank you, but just to note the kind of work I do needs a platform and many people with different expertise. I am lucky to be at CMC, Vellore, and to work with good, intelligent committed people. Together we try to address public health issues that are not usually highlighted," said Dr Kang.

She is also the first Indian woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. To develop practical approaches to support public health, she has built national rotavirus and typhoid surveillance networks, established laboratories to support vaccine trials, and conducted phase 1-3 clinical trials of vaccines, a comprehensive approach that has supported two WHO pre-qualified vaccines, made by two Indian companies.

She is investigating the complex relationships between infection, gut function, and physical and cognitive development, and seeking to build stronger human immunology research in India.

Based at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, she has established strong training programmes for students and young faculty in clinical translational medicine aiming to build a cadre of clinical researchers studying relevant problems in India.

Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

"This extraordinary class of new members is comprised of exceptional scholars and leaders who have been at the forefront of responding to serious public health challenges, combatting social inequities, and achieving innovative discoveries," said National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau. "Their expertise will be vital to informing the future of health and medicine for the benefit of us all. I am truly honored to welcome these esteemed individuals to the National Academy of Medicine."

Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine addresses critical issues in health, science, medicine, and related policy and inspires positive actions across sectors.

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