Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, elected Fellow of Royal Society
Dr Soumya Swaminathan has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The honour marks a rare Indian milestone alongside her father, Prof M S Swaminathan.
Dr Soumya Swainathan said that instead of focussing on detecting each pathogen, follow standard hygiene protocols.
UPDATED: May 20, 2026 06:37 IST
Edited By: Zafar Abbas
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization and former director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world’s highest honours in science.
The achievement marks a historic milestone for Indian science, as Dr Swaminathan and her father, Bharat Ratna Prof M S Swaminathan, become the first daughter-father duo from India to be elected Fellows of the Royal Society.
Dr Swaminathan is also only the second Indian woman scientist to receive the honour in the Royal Society’s 365-year history, after Prof Gagandeep Kang.
The information was shared by Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, former director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and president of the Indian National Science Academy, National Innovation Foundation and Global Research Alliance.
A globally respected public health expert, Dr Swaminathan has played a key role in tackling major health crises, including tuberculosis, HIV and the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the decades, she has worked at the intersection of science, healthcare policy and global crisis response, earning recognition as one of the most trusted voices in public health.
Her election to the Royal Society is being seen as a proud moment for Indian science and the country’s growing contribution to global research and healthcare leadership.
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