16 Indian psychiatrists, doctors and scientists recognised in Stanford University 2026 list of world's top 2% scientists
New Delhi: In 2026, a total of 16 psychiatrists, doctors and scientists from India's various prestigious health and medical institutes have been recognised among the world's top 2% of scientists in the prestigious database curated by Professor John P.A. Ioannidis of Stanford University, in collaboration with the Elsevier Data Repository.
Being recognised in Stanford University's top 2% list of scientists acknowledges their pioneering research, clinical achievements, and consistent impact on the field.
(1) Dr. Chittaranjan Andrade - National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences:
Dr Chittaranjan Andrade is a Senior Professor in the Department of Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, and has over four decades of experience in clinical psychopharmacology, research, and education.
He has authored 784 publications, with more than 216,000 reads and 14,600 citations. His primary research interests include ketamine, psychopharmacology, electroconvulsive therapy, statistics, and research methodology.
Dr. Andrade has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 569 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 606 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 18, with altogether 2167 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Neurology and Neurosurgery.
In the 2024 Stanford University global database, he was ranked among the top 0.1% of scientists across 174 fields. In the 2025 Stanford list, he achieved a rank of 881 based on the composite score, excluding self-citations. By the end of 2024, Dr Andrade’s h-index, excluding self-citations, was 16.
(2) Dr. Rajesh Sagar - AIIMS New Delhi:
Dr. Rajesh Sagar is a Professor in the Psychiatry Department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He pursued his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, New Delhi, and MD in Psychiatry from the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore.
He joined AIIMS Delhi as a faculty in the year 1997, and his fields of interest include Child & Adolescent psychiatry, Epidemiology & Community psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and adult clinical psychiatry.
Dr. Sagar has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 19895 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 21952 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 44, with a total of 22,716 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
(3) Dr. Sandeep Grover K. - PGIMER Chandigarh:
Dr. Sandeep Grover is a Professor in the Psychiatry Department at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Reearch (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
He pursued his MBBS from SCB Medical College, Cuttack and MD from PGIMER Chandigarh. His areas of interest include consultation-liaison psychiatry, impact of severe mental illness on patients and caregivers, psychopharmacology, psychosexual disorders, geriatric Psychiatry.
Dr. Grover has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 20437 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 21,418 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 15, with a total of 1693 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Neurology and Neurosurgery.
In 2025, Dr. Grover held a rank of 22,329 in the Stanford list based on the composite score excluding self-citations. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 13, with a total of 1579 citations for the year, also excluding self-citations.
(4) Dr. Lakshmi Sagar Vijaykumar - Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre:
Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar is a consultant Psychiatrist based in Chennai, India, and is the Founder of SNEHA, a pioneering suicide prevention organisation in India, and is the Head, Department of Psychiatry in the Voluntary Health Services, a multi specialty hospital in Chennai. She is an Honorary Associate Professor of the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is also on the World Health Organisation’s International Network for Suicide Research and Prevention.
Previously, she served as the Vice President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) for four years and received the prestigious Ringel Service Award for her contributions. She has been honoured with the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych) in the UK and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCP EDIN) for her extensive work on suicide prevention.
Her pioneering work has gained global recognition. In 2014, Dr. Vijayakumar was a co-editor of the WHO’s report titled "Preventing Suicide — A Global Imperative."
She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, authored numerous book chapters, and edited two books on the subject. In India, she has received several prestigious awards, including the ‘For The Sake of Honour’ Award, Bharathi Virudu, and the Women Doctor of the Year Award. She has been a tireless advocate for the decriminalization of suicide, the establishment of media guidelines for reporting suicide, and the development of a national suicide prevention strategy for India.
Dr. Vijayakumar has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. She holds a rank of 29229 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 27826 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 20, with a total of 3134 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
Her main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
In the 2025 Stanford list, she ranked 23,506. By the end of 2024, her h-index, excluding self-citations, was 18.
(5) Dr. Ravi Philip Rajkumar -Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research
A Professor of Psychiatry at JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research) in Pondicherry, Dr Ravi Philip Rajkumar is renowned for his work in the areas of psychopharmacology, neuropsychiatry, and psychosomatic disorders. He holds an M.B.B.S. and M.D. in Psychiatry.
Dr. Rajkumar has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 30730 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 33652 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 8, with a total of 636 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Neurology and Neurosurgery. In the 2025 Stanford list, he held a rank of 29405.
(6) Dr Debanjan Banerjee - Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals Kolkata
Dr. Debanjan Banerjee is a distinguished Consultant Geriatric Psychiatrist at Apollo Hospitals, Kolkata. His work focuses on the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychology of misinformation, media reporting of suicides, and the marginalization of ageing populations.
He pursued his MBBS from Calcutta National Medical College and completed his M.D. in Psychiatry from NIMHANS before embarking on a post-doctoral fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry. His research interests are wide-ranging, with a particular emphasis on social constructivist approaches, including Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), Cognitive Grounded Theory (CGT), and Focus Group Discussions (FGD).
Dr. Banerjee has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 40357 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 46355 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 11 with a total of 378 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
In the 2025 Stanford list, he held a rank of 20,414 based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 23,538 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations,was 11, with a total of 485 citations for the year, also excluding self-citations.
(7) Rahul R. Shidhaye -Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences
Rahul R. Shidhaye from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 55915 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 61925 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 15 with a total of 914 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
(8) Dr Kuruthukulangara Sebastian Jacob - Christian Medical College, Vellore
Dr K S Jacob is a Consultant Psychiatrist at CMC Vellore, Chittoor Campus and a retired Professor of Psychiatry, CMC Vellore. He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 57197 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 65202 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 10 with a total of 529 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
His research interests span a variety of topics, including DSM-IV, the sleep-waking cycle, overactive bladder, urolithiasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He is also focused on evidence-based medicine, radiology, and community mental health. Additionally, his work includes exploring neuroticism, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and the role of hydrocortisone in various medical conditions.
(9) Dr. Gururaj Gopalkrishna- National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences
Dr. Gururaj Gopalkrishna is the former Director and Senior Professor of Epidemiology and Public health at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), India. He currently serves as an Advisor and Consultant in the fields of Public Health, Road Safety, and Mental Health.
He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 59020 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 61081 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 14 with a total of 1258 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
In the 2025 Stanford List, Dr. Gopalkrishna held a rank of 93,473 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 92840 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, Dr. Malhotra's h-index, excluding self-citations, was 13, with a total of 1,169 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).
(10) Dr. Sujita Kumar Kar - King George's Medical University
Dr. Sujita Kumar Kar is a Professor of psychiatry at King George's Medical University, Lucknow and practices research in Non-invasive brain stimulation (neuromodulation).
He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 60643 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 59368 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 13 with a total of 856 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine.
(11) Shilpa Aggarwal:
Shilpa Aggarwal has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. She holds a rank of 66716 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 69496 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 9 with a total of 289 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
Her main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Developmental Studies.
(12) Dr. Vikas Menon - Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research
Dr. Vikas Menon pursued his MBBS at JIPMER, Puducherry and specialised further in psychiatry by completing his MD in Psychiatry from JIPMER and obtaining a DNB Psychiatry from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi.
He is currently serving as a Professor of Psychiatry at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry.
Dr. Menon’s primary research interests revolve around mood disorders, suicide prevention, and digital psychiatry. He is particularly passionate about addressing the treatment gap in psychiatry, particularly through the use of innovative and frugal technologies that can make mental health care more accessible to underserved populations.
He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 75563 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 75106 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, His h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 10 with a total of 866 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Neurology and Neurosurgery. In the 2025 Stanford List, he ranked 94,207 on the list and by the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations was 11.
(13) Dr Ajit K. Avasthi - Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
Dr. Ajit K. Avasthi is a renowned psychiatrist and expert in the fields of schizophrenia, affective disorders, and psychosexual dysfunctions. He is currently affiliated with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. He also serves as a Consultant in Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Fortis Hospital, Mohali.
He has earned prestigious accolades over the years. These include the PPA-I Award in 2005, presented by the Indian Psychiatric Society for his Best Published Paper, followed by the same recognition in 2008 for another outstanding paper. Additionally, he received the Dr. Buckshey Award in 2011 during the XXXVIth North Zonal Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society.
Dr. Avasthi's primary areas of expertise encompass a range of mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, affective disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, and psychosexual dysfunctions. His extensive knowledge and experience in these areas contribute to his reputation as a leading figure in the field of psychiatry.
He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 85866 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 98461 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 9 with a total of 614 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is General and Internal Medicine. In the 2025 Stanford list, he ranked 71272.
(14) Dr Santosh Kumar Chaturvedi - Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya
Dr. Santosh Kumar Chaturvedi is an honorary consultant psychiatrist at Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya. He is the former Dean, Behavioural Sciences and Professor of Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore.
He pursued his MBBS at Maulana Azad Medical College and MD in Psychiatry from PGIMER Chandigarh between 1979 and 1982. He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 103213 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 109975 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 9 with a total of 417 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Oncology and Carcinogenesis.
(15) Dr. Ganesan Venkatasubramanian - National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences
Dr. Ganesan Venkatasubramanian is an Indian psychiatrist and clinician-scientist who works as a professor of psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS). He graduated in medicine from Stanley Medical College and thereafter completed his MD and PhD in Psychiatry.
He is known for his research in his studies in the fields of schizophrenia, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), brain imaging, neuroimmunology, neurometabolism and several other areas of biological psychiatry.
He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 120671 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 112400 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 14 with a total of 1319 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry and subfield 2 is Neurology and Neurosurgery.
(16) Pawel Andrzej Atroszko - FLAME University
A Professor of Psychology at FLAME University, Pune, Pawl Andrzej Atroszko has a Doctorate Degree in Psychology from the University of Gdańsk. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Studies, both from the University of Gdańsk, Poland.
He has been recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, according to Stanford University's 2026 list. He holds a rank of 260010 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 91824 when all citations are included. By the end of 2025, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 8 with a total of 178 citations for 2025 (excluding self-citations).
His main field of research is Clinical Medicine; subfield 1 is Psychiatry, and subfield 2 is Social Psychology.
