Professor (Dr.) Jagat Rakesh Kanwar
Professor & Head Department of Biochemistry, Dean (International, Innovation and Commercialization Pathways) All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal
Bio
Professor (Dr.) Jagat Rakesh Kanwar, a globally recognized biomedical scientist, innovator, and academic leader, has dedicated over three decades to advancing oncology, nanomedicine, molecular medicine, and translational research across New Zealand, Australia, and India. Currently, he serves as Head of Biochemistry, Head of the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, and Dean (International, Innovation & Commercialization Pathways) at AIIMS Bhopal, where he leads a 65-member team and a laboratory processing 10,000+ patient tests monthly. His research focuses on nanomedicine-based therapeutics, aptamer-based biosensors, organ-on-chip systems, and precision diagnostics, with applications in cancer, inflammatory diseases, and chronic conditions.
After earning his PhD in Gastroenterology (Molecular Immunology) from PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 1993, he pursued a CSIR Research Associateship and Assistant Professorship before moving abroad. At the University of Auckland (1997–2006), he led pioneering public–industry projects in cancer, multiple sclerosis, and chronic inflammation. Later, as Professor of Nanomedicine at Deakin University, Australia, his leading transformative research initiatives shaped the key research platforms including BioDeakin, the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), Nanomedicine-Laboratory of Immunology Molecular Biomedical Research, the Molecular & Medical Research Strategic Research Centre, and the TERI–Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre in India creating global bridges for collaborative innovation.
Prof. Kanwar scholarly output includes 300+ publications, 13,450+ citations, h-index 64, and recognition in Stanford’s Top 2% of Highly Cited Scientists across oncology, nanoscience, and clinical chemistry. His 18 patents/PCTs, five licensed to biotech companies, reflect his focus on taking discoveries from journals to patients. His recent Indian Patent (No. 568968) for a microfluidic device for arterial blood gas analysis demonstrates this commitment to patient-centred innovation.
Beyond research, his true legacy lies in mentorship. He has supervised over 50 PhDs, 6 MDs, 5 MScs, 15 Honours students, 12 international postdocs, and 7 clinician-scientists. His mentees now hold leadership roles globally at Oxford, USF, Melbourne, Sydney, IITs, and AIIMS.
Honored with awards including the Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar Aarogya Bhushan, Prof. Kanwar continues to embody science without borders building ecosystems where discovery flows into clinics, and where the next generation of biomedical innovators is empowered to deliver healthcare that is safer, smarter, and globally accessible.
Prof. Kanwar is a globally recognized biomedical scientist, innovator, and academic leader whose career spans over three decades of pioneering work in nanomedicine, translational research, and medical education in New Zealand, Australia, and India. Currently serving as the Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Head of the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory at AIIMS Bhopal, India. Prof. Kanwar also holds the roles of Dean (International, Innovation & Commercialization Pathways) and Chairperson of the MoU Committee, where he led strategic institutional initiatives, international collaborations, and translational research programs at AIIMS Bhopal, India. He integrates cutting-edge research with clinical translation to address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges.
Prof. Kanwar earned his PhD in Gastroenterology (Molecular Immunology) from PGIMER, Chandigarh (1993), followed by a CSIR Research Associateship and Assistant Professorship in Immunology. His international journey began in 1997 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he led public–industry research in cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic inflammation. In 2006, he joined as an Associate Professor at Deakin University, Australia, where he was promoted to Professor of Nanomedicine. His leading transformative contributions shaped the pioneering research platforms/ initiatives such as LactoPharma, BioDeakin Nanomedicine-Laboratory of Immunology Molecular Biomedical Research, Molecular & Medical Research Strategic Research Centre, and the TERI–Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre.
Since Dec 2020, Prof. Kanwar has spearheaded research and innovation at AIIMS Bilaspur and, from May 2021, AIIMS Bhopal. He leads a 65-member department and a clinical laboratory conducting 10,000+ patient tests monthly across 120 parameters. His team focuses on nanomedicine-based therapeutics, aptamer-based biosensors, organ-on-chip systems, and precision diagnostics, with applications in cancer, inflammatory diseases, and chronic conditions.
A prolific scholar, Prof. Kanwar has authored 300+ high-impact publications, with >13,450+ citations, h-index 64, and i10-index 209, and is recognized in Stanford University’s Top 2% Highly Cited Scientists across oncology, nanoscience, and clinical chemistry. His innovation portfolio includes 18 patents/PCTs, five of which are licensed to biotech companies, and a recent Indian Patent (No. 568968) for a microfluidic device for arterial blood gas analysis.
Prof. Kanwar has been associated with 50+ professional societies, including ACS, AACR, ASI, ACBI, APFCB, and the British Society for Nanomedicine. He has supervised over 50 PhD scholars and several MD, MSc, and clinician-scientist trainees, many of whom now hold leadership positions globally.
With a career devoted to bench-to-bedside translation, Prof. Kanwar's vision integrates nanotechnology, molecular biology, and clinical applications to deliver safe, scalable, and affordable healthcare solutions. His work continues to shape precision nanomedicine, global research collaboration, and next-generation biomedical innovation.
Personal Quote:
“Science must not remain confined to laboratories; it must translate into accessible, affordable, and impactful solutions that transform human health and empower future generations, and true science leadership lies in mentoring the next generation, fostering global collaboration, and driving innovations from bench to bedside for societal impact. - Professor (Dr.) Jagat Rakesh Kanwar”