Dr. Indira Nath: Innovator in Leprosy Immunology and a Beacon of Scientific Excellence

TL;DR

Dr. Indira Nath was a pioneering Indian immunologist who dedicated her career to studying leprosy immunology and advancing biotechnology in India.

Contribution

She pioneered research on leprosy immunology and established a new department of biotechnology at AIIMS.

Findings

Dr. Nath focused on leprosy immunology, a neglected tropical disease in India.

She led the establishment of a biotechnology department at AIIMS, advancing new-age research.

Abstract

Dr. Indira Nath, an Indian immunologist, was born on January 14, 1938 and passed away on October 24, 2021. Dr. Indira Nath is considered one of the pioneers of immunology in India. Immunologists study the role of the immune system in human health and diseases. While many immunologists prefer to study cancers and autoimmune conditions, in contrast, Dr. Indira Nath chose to study the immunology of leprosy, a neglected tropical disease that had a considerable disease burden and social stigma in India. She returned to India and joined her alma mater, where she continued the rest of the journey until her formal retirement. Meanwhile, Dr. Nath also oversaw the establishment of a new department of biotechnology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where she served as the founding head and further advanced her new-age research on the immunology of leprosy.