Dr Unni Karunakara served as the International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders. His journey with MSF began in 1995 when he established a tuberculosis control program in Ethiopia. Over the years, he has held various critical roles, including medical coordinator for MSF programs in Azerbaijan, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and medical director of MSF’s Access Campaign. He has held academic and research fellowships across universities in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Germany, and the United Kingdom. His research has primarily focused on the demography of forced migration and healthcare delivery to neglected populations affected by conflict, disasters, and epidemics. Dr Karunakara holds an MBBS from Mangalore University in India, an MPH from Yale University, and a Doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in the United States. He has also served as the Deputy Director of Health for the Earth Institute's Millennium Villages Project and as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr Nirmal Kumar Ganguly, M.D., Ph.D., is an esteemed figure in medical research and public health in India. He has served as the DG-ICMR and held presidencies at the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Indian Science Congress, and JIPMER-Puducherry. His extensive career includes directing prestigious institutions like PGIMER Chandigarh and the National Institute of Biologicals. He has contributed significantly to fields like neglected tropical diseases, immunology, biotechnology, and public health. His involvement in global health includes advisory roles with the CDC, NIH Fogarty International Center, and the WHO. Prof. Ganguly has also chaired numerous scientific advisory committees for leading Indian research institutes and served on the board of organizations such as the BMGF’s Grand Challenges board. Recently, Prof. Ganguly has been appointed Chairperson of the Task Force on Vector Borne Diseases by the National Academy of Medical Sciences. He also chairs the Project Evaluation Committee for the CSIR-Fundamental & Innovative Research in Science of Tomorrow Projects. His prolific academic contributions include over 800 publications and 21 book chapters, and he has guided more than 158 Ph.D. students.

A medical doctor by training, Dr Kant did his MD from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University and M Sc in Communicable Disease Epidemiology from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London. Dr Kant was at the Indian Council of Medical Research since 1985, where he headed the Division of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases for ten years before taking voluntary retirement in April 2011. He also held additional charge of the Divisions of Basic Medical Sciences and International Health while at ICMR.

Dr Farhat Mantoo has a specialisation in medical anthropology, communication, hospital management, and human resources apart from being trained in humanitarian assistance linked to international humanitarian affairs. She is presently the General Director of MSF India. Her primary research interests are in the application and relevance of low-cost quality medical innovations and implementation of them in humanitarian medicine. This includes technologies for measuring and motivating health-related behaviours to have larger impact.

Dr Deepa Joshi did her MBBS from SN Medical College, Jodhpur, India and PhD in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She worked in various capacities over last 25 years to lead Clinical Pharmacology, Drug Discovery, Translational Medicine and Clinical Research at Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Reliance Clinical Research and Bristol Myers Squibb. She retired as Vice President from Torrent and currently provides pro bono support as Chief Advisor to DNDi India Foundation and as member of Expert Advisory Committee, Medicine Patent Pool and works as Consultant to Torrent.

Dr Richa is a Ph.D. holder in pharmaceutical chemistry with expertise in synthetic medicinal chemistry. Her research during her doctoral studies focused on designing and synthesizing innovative hybrid molecules for potential applications in treating inflammatory and immune-related disorders. Her current role in DNDi India foundation is to ensure smooth operation of discovery activities in India, identifying new opportunities and partners, supporting fundraising efforts, and leading donor communications.

Dr Rajni Kant is a renowned public health expert with over four decades of experience, specializing in vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria and Japanese encephalitis (JE)/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Gorakhpur. As the former Director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) and Scientist G and Head of Policy & Communications at ICMR Headquarters, his work has significantly advanced research management, health communication, and policy development. He has led critical initiatives such as TB prevalence surveys, COVID sero-surveys, and the Mission SHAKTTI program. Dr Kant’s efforts extend beyond academia into social media literacy, community engagement, and historical health documentation. Recognized with numerous awards, his impactful contributions to health policy, research, and community well-being continue to inspire and shape public health. Recognized with prestigious awards and accolades.

Ms Meenakshi Bakshi is a seasoned professional in strategic and operational Quality Management, with over 27 years of experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining Quality Management Systems (QMS). Her expertise spans across tertiary hospital-based laboratories, central reference laboratories, and clinical research, both domestically and globally, including vaccine trials. As a certified trainer, mentor, and advisor on GxP projects related to pharmaceuticals, public health, medical devices and diagnostics, she is dedicated to promoting a quality culture that continuously enhances QMS to meet and exceed accreditation and regulatory requirements. Currently, Ms Bakshi serves as the national lab consultant for India’s DBT-National Biopharma Mission (NBM), mentoring prestigious national sites working in large community cohorts. She is also a GCP expert for ICMR-ITRC (India TB Research Consortium) and a certified lead auditor for ISO 13485 for medical devices.

Dr Kavita Singh is a senior medical professional with years of experience in healthcare product development and a strong understanding of India’s R&D ecosystem. Currently serving as South Asia Director at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Dr Kavita leads efforts to deliver impactful health solutions for underserved communities. Before this, she was Mission Director for the National Biopharma Mission at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), where she worked on transformative programs under the Department of Biotechnology. Her journey has also included roles like Program Director for the Multi Vaccines Development Program and collaborations with leading Indian pharma and biotech companies. With an MBBS, an MD in Microbiology, and additional qualifications in business management and epidemiology, Dr Kavita brings a unique blend of medical expertise and strategic vision to everything she does.

Amit Malik has been with DNDi since January 2019, serving as Head of Operations for South Asia. With over 18 years of experience spanning the social and commercial sectors, Amit brings a unique blend of financial acumen and strategic leadership. Before joining DNDi, he was a finance leader at BBC Media Action, where he worked closely with country teams to deliver strategic and financial insights for development communication initiatives. Amit is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (Finance). His strength lies in shaping financial strategies and streamlining operations for organizations making a meaningful impact.

Dr Shikha Taneja Malik joined DNDi in April 2024 as Senior Scientific Affairs Manager. A virologist with over 15 years of experience, she has a strong background in biomarker research, vaccine development, and public health initiatives. Previously, Dr Shikha was part of the founding team of the National Biopharma Mission at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), GoI where she led key programs like vaccine R&D, and infrastructure development at the national level along with the COVID-19 vaccine initiative, ‘COVID Suraksha.’ She holds a PhD from ICGEB New Delhi, a Post-Doctorate from Harvard University, and is a Certified Project Manager (IPMA-C). A passionate advocate for women’s leadership in public health and science communication, Dr Shikha enjoys bridging the gap between research and public understanding through digital media and her blog.

Manisha Sharma is a dynamic and passionate communicator with over 20 plus years of extensive experience in communications and media. She works as a Senior Communication Manager at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) in South Asia for past nine years. She is instrumental in strategizing and implementing the region’s communications strategy, ensuring high visibility and effective stakeholder outreach. With a postgraduate degree in English Literature and in Journalism & Mass Communications, Manisha specializes in right-based development engagements. Her career spans across news media, communications, policy advocacy, and medical research and development. Before joining DNDi, she worked with renowned international non-profits such as the International HIV-AIDS Alliance, GIZ, and Oxfam. Additionally, she has eight years of experience working with leading national English dailies like the Hindustan Times and The Times of India.

Suchi Verma joined DNDi in April 2022 as Regional HR Manager for South Asia and stepped into the role of Head of HR & Organisation in January 2024. With over 14 years of experience as an HR Generalist, Suchi brings expertise in talent acquisition and talent management, policies, HR business partnering, DEI, and safeguarding, and HR digitalisation. She has worked across international non-profits and the private sector, aligning HR strategies with organizational goals and supporting leadership teams with operational and strategic initiatives. Suchi holds a graduate degree in History and Economics and a master's in human resource management, along with certifications in Learning & Development and Design Thinking in HR. Fluent in English and Hindi, she is passionate about creating inclusive and people-focused workplaces that drive growth and impact.

Ashish Dwivedi joined DNDi in November 2022 as a Finance Officer, bringing over a decade of experience in accounting and finance across the development and commercial sectors. With a master’s degree in finance, Ashish manages accounts and financial operations for the DNDi India Foundation, providing support to help sustain its activities. Before DNDi, he worked with BBC Media Action on development-focused initiatives and gained administrative and financial expertise as an Office Manager at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Babita Papneja joined DNDi in July 2010 as an Executive Assistant for the DNDi India office and currently serves as a Senior Executive Office Associate. With over 30 years of experience in banking and philanthropy, Babita brings a wealth of operational and administrative expertise to her role. Before joining DNDi, she spent over a decade as a Banking Assistant at ANZ Bank, later transitioning to the non-profit sector in 2002. Babita holds a Commerce degree from Delhi University, a stenography certification from the Delhi Administration, and a global certification as a Human Resources Generalist.