Soumya Swaminathan is a pediatrician and global expert in tuberculosis and HIV research. She recently served as the World Health Organization’s first Chief Scientist, and previously as Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (2015–2017). She became Chairperson of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in February 2023. She is also Principal Advisor to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Chair of ICMR Scientific Advisory Board and National Science Chair of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, Government of India. In 2026, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

With over 40 years of experience in clinical care and research, Dr. Swaminathan has focused on translating science into impactful public health programmes. As Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research, she strengthened research capacity in Indian institutions, promoted evidence-based policymaking, and fostered global partnerships. As Chief Scientist WHO, she focused on strengthening the normative and research functions of WHO and played a major role in coordinating scientific efforts during the COVID pandemic.

Dr. Swaminathan trained in India, the UK, and the USA, and has authored 480+ peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine, the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), and leading Indian science academies. She holds honorary doctorates from the Karolinska Institute, EPFL Lausanne, McGill and Guelph Universities, Canada. She is an adjunct professor at Karolinska University and Tufts University. 

She currently co-chairs the global commission “Our Common Air” and serves on the ACCRA Reset High-Level Panel, along with several international boards and advisory bodies. Her current work focuses on the health impacts of climate change, particularly on women and children, and on food system transformation to improve nutrition security