Institutional Ethics Committee

IEC Links

Dr. Arun Aggarwal

Dr. Arun Kumar Agarwal, MBBS, MS, is an eminent otorhinolaryngologist, medical educator, and healthcare administrator with an illustrious career spanning clinical practice, academic leadership, and health policy. He served as Dean of Maulana Azad Medical College, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Additional Director General of Health Services, Government of India, and President of the Delhi Medical Council. Throughout his distinguished career, he has played a pivotal role in strengthening medical education, healthcare governance, and regulatory frameworks while mentoring generations of medical professionals. Dr. Agarwal has made significant contributions to national health policy and medical regulation through his leadership on several expert committees. He chaired the Government of India's expert committee whose recommendations formed the basis of the national compensation framework for affected patients and strengthened oversight of medical devices in India. His expertise spans clinical governance, patient safety, medical ethics, healthcare regulation, and quality assurance, and he has been closely associated with initiatives promoting excellence in medical education, innovation, and healthcare delivery. Recognised for his commitment to ethical medical practice and public service, Dr. Agarwal has continued to contribute to healthcare as Medical Advisor for Innovation, Education and Clinical Excellence at Apollo Hospitals Group and through national and international professional organizations. His extensive experience in clinical medicine, health policy, regulatory oversight, and institutional governance enables him to provide invaluable guidance on the ethical, scientific, and legal dimensions of biomedical research. As Chairperson of the Institutional Ethics Committee, Dr. Agarwal brings exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding research participants while promoting the highest standards of ethical and scientifically rigorous research.

Dr. Satendra Singh

Dr. Satendra Singh, MD (Physiology), is Director-Professor of Physiology at the University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi. An internationally recognised physician, educator, and bioethicist, he is a leading advocate for disability-inclusive healthcare, medical ethics, and health professions education. He has played a pivotal role in advancing disability rights within medical education and health systems, contributing to policy development and ethical practice at national and global levels. Dr. Singh is the only Indian member of the inaugural Lancet Commission on Disability and Health (2025–2027) and serves on several World Health Organization (WHO) initiatives, including the Technical Group for Global Competency Standards on Disability Inclusion and the WHO Disability Health Equity Network. He has also served as a member of the Disability Core Group of the National Human Rights Commission and as Co-Chair of the International Council for Disability Inclusion in Medical Education. His fellowship at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, has further strengthened his expertise in clinical ethics and bioethics. A former Ethics Committee member of the Delhi Medical Council and Editorial Board Member of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Dr. Singh has led several internationally funded projects on clinical ethics, professionalism, supported decision-making, and disability-inclusive care. He has authored over 100 scholarly publications and is the recipient of numerous prestigious honours, including the President of India's National Award (2021), the WHO South-East Asia Public Health Champion Award (2025), and the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award (2017). As a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, he brings invaluable expertise in clinical ethics, research ethics, disability inclusion, and equitable healthcare, enriching the committee's commitment to ethical, participant-centred research.

Dr. Aamir Nazir

Dr. Aamir Nazir, Ph.D. is Senior Principal Scientist and Head of the Department of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine at CSIR–Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow. He is also a Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) and serves as Deputy Test Facility Manager of the institute's GLP-certified facility. With over two decades of experience in toxicology, neurodegeneration, ageing biology, and translational drug development, Dr. Nazir has made significant contributions to regulatory toxicology, functional genomics, and preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutics. His research focuses on healthy ageing, neurodegenerative diseases, and the discovery and safety assessment of new drug entities using advanced genetic and molecular approaches. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, supervised numerous doctoral scholars, and holds several patents in drug discovery and translational research. Dr. Nazir has served on expert committees of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), contributing to national policies on drug safety and clinical research. As a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, Dr. Nazir brings extensive expertise in regulatory science, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), research integrity, and responsible conduct of research. His experience in evaluating the scientific validity, safety, and ethical aspects of biomedical research strengthens the committee's commitment to safeguarding research participants while promoting high standards of ethical and scientifically rigorous research.

Dr. Sabina Khan

Dr. Sabina Khan, MBBS, MD (Pathology), MAMS, MIAC, ACME, is Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), , New Delhi. A distinguished academic pathologist with over two decades of teaching, research, and administrative experience, she has made significant contributions to diagnostic pathology, medical education, and research ethics. She completed her MBBS and MD (Pathology) from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, and received advanced training in Cytopathology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Her areas of expertise include cytopathology, oncopathology, medical education, and ethics. Dr. Khan has authored more than 150 publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals and has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on several intramural and extramural research projects. Her academic excellence has been recognised through numerous honours, including the Award of Excellence in Pathology by the Indian Medical Association (2024), the Women Researcher Award from ISAC (2021), and the SAS Eminent Fellow Membership for her contributions to education and research. She is a member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), the Indian Academy of Cytologists, and has been nominated to the prestigious International Academy of Cytology. An accomplished medical educator, Dr. Khan completed a Fellowship in Medical Education (ACME) at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, and currently serves as Coordinator of the Medical Education Unit at HIMSR. She has extensive experience in research governance, having served as Chairperson of the Institutional Ethics Committee of Jamia Millia Islamia for over five years, Biosafety Officer of the Institutional Biosafety Committee, and previously as a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee of Jamia Hamdard. As a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee at HIMSR, she brings extensive expertise in pathology, biomedical research, ethics review, and institutional governance, contributing to the promotion of high standards of ethical, scientifically rigorous, and participant-centred research.

Dr. Arifa Anwar Elahi

Dr. Arifa Anwar Elahi is Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. With over 20 years of experience in obstetrics, gynaecology, medical education, and women's health, she has established herself as a respected clinician, teacher, and researcher. She has served at HIMSR in progressive academic roles since 2011 and has been actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, clinical care, and academic leadership. Dr. Arifa's research focuses on maternal and fetal medicine, high-risk pregnancy, adolescent health, minimally invasive gynaecological surgery, and reproductive health. She has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals, with recent work addressing preeclampsia, abnormal uterine bleeding, labour induction, adolescent reproductive health, polycystic ovary syndrome, and quality improvement in obstetric care. As a postgraduate thesis guide and mentor, she has supervised research across medicine, pharmacy, and physiotherapy, while also serving as an external examiner for MBBS and postgraduate programmes at several universities. She has completed the ICMR Basic Course in Biomedical Research and contributes to scholarly publishing as an Editorial Board Member of the Era Journal of Medical Research. Dr. Arifa is a Fellow of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FICOG), a Fellow in Minimal Access Surgery (FMAS), and a Member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (MNAMS). She is an active member of several national and international professional organizations, including FOGSI, AOGD, ISUOG, and the Society of Vaginal Surgeons of India. Her extensive experience in clinical research, postgraduate supervision, and evidence-based women's healthcare enables her to provide valuable perspectives on participant safety, scientific validity, and ethical conduct of research. As a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, she contributes her expertise in obstetrics and gynaecology, clinical research, and ethical oversight, supporting the committee's commitment to protecting research participants and promoting high-quality biomedical research.

Dr. Vineet Jain

Dr. Vineet Jain, MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), is Professor in the Department of Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR) and HAHC Hospital, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. He completed his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, and MD in Internal Medicine from PGIMER, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. With over 15 years of experience in clinical medicine, medical education, and research, Dr. Jain has developed expertise in infectious diseases, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and clinical therapeutics. He combines extensive patient care with a strong commitment to academic medicine and clinical research. Dr. Jain has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals, including The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, JAMA Pediatrics, PLOS ONE, and the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. His research spans infectious diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, malaria, and COVID-19, as well as diabetes, metabolic disorders, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions. He has served as Principal Investigator and Investigator in several multicentric Phase II and III clinical trials evaluating vaccines against COVID-19, chikungunya, and meningococcal disease, contributing significantly to vaccine research and clinical evidence generation in India. Alongside his clinical and research responsibilities, Dr. Jain actively mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students and participates in national and international scientific conferences. His experience in conducting investigator-initiated research, multicentre clinical trials, and Good Clinical Practice makes him well-versed in the ethical and regulatory requirements governing biomedical research. As a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, he contributes valuable expertise in clinical medicine, participant safety, protocol review, and the ethical oversight of clinical research, supporting the committee's commitment to scientifically robust and ethically responsible research.

Dr. Yasir Alvi

Dr. Yasir Alvi, MBBS, MD (Community Medicine), is Senior Research Officer at the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD), New Delhi. A public health physician, epidemiologist, and academician, he has over 11 years of experience in medical education, epidemiological research, and health systems strengthening. He previously served as Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), where he also held key academic and administrative roles, including Member Secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) and Coordinator of the Master of Public Health programme. His expertise spans epidemiology, biostatistics, implementation research, infectious diseases, and public health policy. Dr. Alvi has authored over 48 peer-reviewed publications, with an H-index of 11 and more than 400 citations, and is the author of the textbook Biostatistics Manual for Health Research (Elsevier). He has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on more than 15 research projects funded by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). His research has focused on tuberculosis, respiratory infections, implementation research, sexual harassment in healthcare, pandemic preparedness, and health systems research. He also serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE and has received advanced training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), implementation research, health financing, and health systems strengthening through WHO, UNICEF, and international training programmes. During his tenure as Member Secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee at HIMSR, Dr. Alvi played a central role in strengthening ethical review processes, regulatory compliance, and research governance. His expertise in clinical research methodology, biostatistics, Good Clinical Practice, and implementation science, combined with his extensive experience in multicentric research and capacity building, enables him to make significant contributions to the ethical review of biomedical and public health research. As a member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, he brings a strong commitment to scientific rigor, participant protection, and the promotion of responsible and ethically sound research.

Dr. Indu Prakash Singh

Dr. Indu Prakash Singh, PhD, is a senior sociologist, social researcher, and public policy expert with over three decades of experience in research, ethics, governance, and rights-based advocacy. His work has focused on advancing social justice through research, policy development, and institutional leadership, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations. With extensive experience in community-based participatory research, public health, gender, and social policy, he has contributed significantly to strengthening ethical practices in research and programme implementation across governmental and civil society organizations. Dr. Singh has served in several leadership positions, including Independent Consultant and Sociologist, Chairperson of the Asha Kiran Homes Complex, Governing Body Member of Kamala Nehru College and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Head of the SHELTER Programme at Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), National Theme Leader at ActionAid India, and Director of Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan. His work has included policy advocacy, programme evaluation, ethical oversight, institutional governance, and the development of rights-based frameworks, including contributions to the Housing Rights Bill and engagement with United Nations initiatives on social protection. A Gold Medalist in Sociology from Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr. Singh holds a PhD in Social Work, an M.Phil. in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a Master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Delhi. He is the author of several books and numerous research papers on gender, urban development, and social justice, and has received multiple recognitions for his contributions to public service and advocacy. As a social scientist member of the Institutional Ethics Committee, Dr. Singh brings invaluable expertise in social and behavioural research, human participant protection, community engagement, and ethical governance, strengthening the committee's review of research involving diverse and vulnerable populations.

Dr. Varsha Singh

I lead a small interdisciplinary team where we study cognition-emotion, decision making, mind-brain problems, prefrontal cortex and executive control. We work with clinical population (Spinal cord inury, Epilepsy, Affective Disorders, Impulse control) as well as healthy participants (areas: cognitive sex differences, visuospatial memory, episodic memory) to test theoretical hypothesis of clinical relevance. We use measures such as cognitive tests, psychological scales, motor behavior assessments, and neuroimaging tools (fNIRs); recent collaboration in translational neuroscience includes investigation cognitive effects of CNS perturbations.

Dr. Sukriti Chauhan

Dr Sukriti Chauhan, an INLAKS scholar, is a trained lawyer with a Masters in International Development Law and Human Rights from Warwick University, UK. She has close to a decade of advocacy and communications expertise in public health and human rights, working with the highest offices in India, including the Honourable President and Prime Minister. She started her career with PATH, India, working closely on HIV/AIDS, sexual reproductive health, cervical cancer prevention, and maternal and child health. She started ETI- Empower, Transform. Inspire in 2022. ETI Services that has worked closely on the issue of mental health and suicide prevention, setting up the first Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health and also the work with the Ministry of Health and Family welfare to usher in India’s First Suicide Prevention Strategy.
As a Director at Global Health Strategies, Sukriti led the Tuberculosis Control and Prevention Project, resulting in national-level policy changes and a coalition of members of parliament, as well as set up the $50 million funding pool under the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative in India. She continues to work closely with Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, World Health Organisation on mental health in India. In her last role as a donor, she led a four statewide programme with a consortium of ten partners on adolescent health, nutrition and child protection. She also spearheaded the curation of a five-year strategy for the Tata Trusts, India Health Fund focused on Tuberculosis and Malaria elimination in India. She collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research to set up a Communications Unit to build the capacity of scientists to effectively and credibly relay scientific evidence to the public and key decision-makers. She also spearheaded the implementation of a champions-based strategy to create an enabling environment for the uptake of family planning services with a focus on spacing and access to the basket of contraceptive choices, with a rights-based perspective in six states in India. Recently awarded her PhD titled 'Legal and Social Impact of HIV/AIDS on Abandoned Housewives in Kolkata and Delhi' from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Sukriti has widely presented and published her work at the global and national level.

Mohd. Yasir

I’m an LGBTQI+ community worker and a lot of my work so far has been centred around queer communities, young people, and creating spaces where conversations around gender, sexuality and identity can happen openly.
I’ve worked with the YP Foundation, where I facilitated Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) workshops for adolescents. I’ve also led my own Social Action Project (SAP), which gave me the opportunity to take an idea from the ground up and work directly with communities to turn it into something meaningful.
Alongside my community and advocacy work, I’ve worked in workshop-based roles where I was involved in planning, coordinating and facilitating sessions for diverse groups.
Currently, I’m working with the GLAD Foundation as a Project Associate, where I continue to work around LGBTQI+ inclusion, advocacy and community engagement.

Dr. Aqsa Shaikh

Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, MBBS, MD (Community Medicine), PG Diploma in Bioethics & Medical Ethics, is Professor in the Department of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), New Delhi, and serves as the Member Secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), HIMSR, as well as the Hospital Bioethics Committee of HAHC Hospital. With over 15 years of experience in public health, epidemiology, and community-based research, she has established herself as a leading academic in research ethics, health equity, and medical education. Dr. Shaikh holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Medical Ethics from Yenepoya University and has completed formal training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), biomedical research, and ethics in research. Her work focuses on ethical and inclusive health research, particularly involving transgender persons, LGBTQIA+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized populations. As Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, she has led and collaborated on numerous nationally and internationally funded research projects supported by organizations including WHO, ICMR, THSTI, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the University of Chicago. Her scholarship includes more than 30 peer-reviewed publications addressing research ethics, health equity, medical humanities, and public health. Beyond research, Dr. Shaikh plays an active role in institutional governance and national policy initiatives. She serves on the Supreme Court of India's National Task Force on Student Suicide Prevention and contributes to several national and international initiatives on immunization, disability rights, transgender health, and mental health. As Member Secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee, she is committed to strengthening ethical review processes, promoting responsible conduct of research, and fostering a culture of integrity, inclusiveness, and participant-centred research within the institution.

Dr. Sana Rehman

Dr. Sana Rehman, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology), is Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), New Delhi. A clinical pharmacologist and medical educator, she has expertise in neurobehavioral pharmacology, respiratory pharmacology and toxicology, clinical pharmacology, pharmacovigilance, and materiovigilance. Through her academic and research activities, she has contributed to advancing medication safety, rational therapeutics, and pharmacological research, while actively mentoring postgraduate and doctoral students. She has supervised and co-supervised 11 MD, MSc, and PhD theses and has delivered invited lectures at numerous national and international scientific forums. Dr. Sana has authored more than 30 publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals and has received several academic distinctions, including the Young Pharmacologist Award (2023), the Outstanding E-Poster Presentation Award (2021), and the Gold Medal in the MD Examination awarded by the Hon'ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh (2019). She serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Comprehensive and Advanced Pharmacology and the Indian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology and is an active member of several national professional societies in pharmacology and cardiovascular sciences. Within HIMSR, Dr. Sana holds several important institutional responsibilities, including Alternate Member Secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee, Member Secretary of the Materiovigilance Committee, Causality Assessment Committee, and Prescription Monitoring Committee. Her expertise in clinical pharmacology, drug safety surveillance, adverse event assessment, and regulatory oversight enables her to make valuable contributions to the ethical review of biomedical research. As alternate member secretary of the Institutional Ethics Committee, she is committed to ensuring participant safety, scientific integrity, and compliance with ethical and regulatory standards in clinical and biomedical research.