Balram Bhargava

Professor Balram Bhargava, born on July 21, 1961, in Lucknow, is an eminent cardiologist and a visionary leader in biomedical innovation, public health, and medical research. Serving as the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary of the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, he has significantly advanced the nation’s healthcare landscape. With an MD and DM qualification, his exceptional contributions span medicine, medical technology innovation, and social impact. He developed the indigenous Platinum Iridium coil coronary stent and played a pivotal role in the clinical evaluation and establishment of medicated Indian stents, reducing healthcare costs and enhancing accessibility. As a pioneering innovator, he initiated transformative projects, such as the Society for Less Investigative Medicine (SLIM), aiming to address excessive commercial practices in healthcare, and Mission DELHI (Delhi Emergency Life Heart-attack Initiative), an innovative program using motorcycle first responders to provide rapid care for cardiac emergencies. His social commitment and dedication to disease prevention, early detection, and efficient treatment systems have touched countless lives. Professor Bhargava's accolades include the prestigious Padma Shri award, the SN Bose Centenary Award, the Tata Innovation Fellowship, the Ranbaxy Award, and the UNESCO Equatorial Guinea Prize for Life Sciences, among others. He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology. His leadership extends beyond medicine, as he champions initiatives for creative public health solutions and innovations with far-reaching social impact. Under his stewardship, ICMR has become a global leader in medical research, exemplified by its critical role during health crises. Professor Bhargava’s relentless pursuit of excellence has not only revolutionized cardiology in India but also established benchmarks for integrating medical research, education, and public health initiatives, earning him widespread recognition and respect. Cardiologist, teacher, biomedical innovator and entrepreneur, Balram Bhargava is a professor and senior consultant cardiologist in the Department of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, India. He is also Executive Director of the School of International Biodesign (previously Stanford-India Biodesign) there, and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and Secretary at the Department of Health Research in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi. In the late 1990s, he developed a platinum–iridium coil coronary stent, is currently developing a chest compression device and has pioneered several techniques in interventional cardiology. He graduated in medicine from King George’s Medical College in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1984, completing a Masters and Doctorate there in 1988 and 1990. He was elected Fellow (ad eundem) of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Glasgow, Scotland in 2008. He is Honorary Editor-in-Chief of BMJ Innovations and is chair of the Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Medical Research. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the Padmashri, India’s highest civilian award (2014) and the Dr Lee Jong-Wook Memorial Prize for Public Health (2019).