Dr. Smita Mahale
Project Co-ordinator
Former Director, Emeritus Scientist, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai
Dr. Smita Mahale is a former Director & Emeritus Scientist, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai. She holds PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Mumbai and conducted post-doctoral research at Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA. She is an elected fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India and Indian National Science Academy. Dr Mahale has working experience in the area of Reproductive Biology/Reproductive Endocrinology over the last 30 years. She has extensively worked on the structure-function of gonadotropins, their receptors and other proteins involved in reproduction. She is recipient of several awards including ICMR Swaran Kanta Dingley Award, Labhsetwar Award, Drs. Kunti & Om Prakash Oration Award and Prof. N. R. Moudgal Memorial Oration Award. She is providing mentoring support for the public health programs of National importance including snakebite, COVID-19.
Dr. Geetanjali Sachdeva
Project Co-ordinator
Director and Scientist G, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai
Dr. Geetanjali Sachdeva is Director & Scientist G, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai. She holds PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is an elected fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India. Dr Geetanjali has been working in the area of Reproductive Biology for the last 24 years. She has extensively worked on the endometrial receptivity, early pregnancy, implantation failures and endometriosis. She is recipient of several awards including ICMR Swaran Kanta Dingley Award, GP Talwar Midlevel Career Award and Royan International Research Award. She is providing mentoring support for the public health programs of national importance including COVID-19.
Dr. Rahul Gajbhiye
Principal Investigator
Scientist D & DBT Wellcome India Alliance Clinical & Public Health Intermediate Fellow, ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai Maharashtra
Dr. Rahul Gajbhiye is a Clinician-Scientist, currently working at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai, India. He completed his medical school at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Memorial Medical College, Amravati, Maharashtra State, India and obtained a PhD from University of Mumbai, India. He completed post-doctoral fellowship in reproductive genetics under mentorship of Professor Grant Montgomery at Institute of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Australia. He is a recipient of prestigious fellowships including DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance Clinical and Public Health Fellowship, Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Indo-Australia EMCR Fellowship, Burroughs Wellcome Fellowship and Prof. N.R. Moudgal Memorial Oration-2022 Award. He is an international ambassador for the World Endometriosis Society (WES), Research Advisor of Endometriosis Society of India. Dr. Gajbhiye is the recipient of several extramural research grants from international and national funding agencies. Dr. Gajbhiye’s lab is conducting research on several disorders of public health importance including COVID-19, Endometriosis, Male Infertility, Snakebite. Dr. Gajbhiye has contributed immensely for the establishment of Maharashtra’s first Model Rural Health Research Unit at Dahanu, District Palghar. He has published several original research articles in international and national journals of high repute and authored several book chapters. He is actively contributing in health policy development especially disorders of public health importance at National and International level.
Dr. Rakesh Waghmare
Principal Investigator
OSD to Secretary, Medical Education & Drugs Department, Government of Maharashtra, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Grant Government Medical College & Sir J J Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, India
Dr. Rakesh is the Officer on Special Duty, Medical Education and Drugs Department and the Associate Professor, GGMC. He is also the Assistant Hon’ble Secretary in administration of state running Medical, Dental, Ayurvedic, Nursing, etc colleges to produce competent, compassionate and caring Undergraduate and Postgraduate students through excellence in Teaching, Patient care and medical Research. His key areas of interests include Public Health and Hospital Administration, Maternal and Child Health, Immunization, Primary Health care and Infectious diseases. He is a recipient of various prestigious awards such as Award of Excellence for his work as Assistant Professor on 69th Republic Day at GGMC. Dr. Rakesh has published several research articles in National and International journals.
Dr. Niraj Mahajan
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Nodal Officer COVID19 (Maternity), Topiwala National Medical College & B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital
Dr. Niraj Mahajan is a leading Senior Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in South Mumbai with 16 years of clinical and research experience. He is the Nodal officer of COVID Maternity and Principal Investigator for ongoing PregCovid Registry, at B.Y.L. Nair Charitable Hospital. He is the recipient of International Healthcare Award, 2019 by TIME Cybermedia Pvt. Ltd. He has 51 index journal publications including 11 research articles and 41 correspondence and his work has been cited more than 241 times. He has ResearchGate Score of 42.95 and an H-index of 8. Dr. Mahajan is the Editorial board member for World Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and also a reviewer for 8 international journals. His name has also been included in “Marquis who’s who in the world” 2009 edition. He has authored chapters in various books.
Dr. Deepak Modi
Co- Principal Investigator
Scientist F, ICMR-NIRRCH
Dr. Deepak Modi is presently Scientist F at ICMR-NIRRCH, Mumbai, India. He is a PhD in Human Genetics and has 15 years of experience in area of feto- maternal interactions and placentation during pregnancy. His research work mainly focuses on understanding the mechanisms involved in embryo implantation to establish pregnancy and how things go awry leading to infertility, miscarriages and preterm births. In addition the DM lab is also interested in determining the genetic causes of Disorders of Sex Development (DSDs) and male infertility. The translational research endeavors in the laboratory are developing molecular diagnostic tools for male infertility and infections associated with preterm births. We have developed a PCR based assay using markers specific for Indian population for diagnosis of Yq microdeletions in infertile males. We are in the process of developing assays for detection of vaginal infections related to preterm births.
Dr. Suchitra Surve
Co- Principal Investigator
Scientist C, ICMR-NIRRCH
Dr. Suchitra Surve is Scientist C at ICMR-NIRRCH. She is Paediatrician by training and her research areas of interest are Newborn and Child Health. Her research on Vitamin D deficiency in Children has given a new insight and highlighted significance of Vitamin D binding protein in determining Vitamin D deficiency in under-five children. She is currently working in the area of latent tuberculosis infection among under-five children. She has initiated Child health services at Family welfare Clinic of Institute in community with very good rapport with surrounding community. Her existing projects have created a good cohort of children with potential scope of unaddressed researchable issues. She has also initiated Paediatric Endocrinology services in collaboration with Paediatric Endocrinologist from neighboring Children’s Hospital at this clinic. She will soon initiate her work in an important unraveled area of Precocious Puberty which will look at exploration of new biomarkers.