Dr. Gagandeep "Cherry" Kang ('81) has become the first Indian woman scientist to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 360 years.
Dr. Kang is a pioneering physician scientist who has made numerous contributions to scientific discovery. Known for her inter-disciplinary research studying the transmission, development and prevention of enteric infections among children, Kang played an instrumental role in developing two indigenous vaccines against rotavirus and typhoid.
Currently on sabbatical from Christian Medical College (CMC), Dr. Kang is serving as the Executive Director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, India. She is also the only Indian woman to be elected to the American Academy of Microbiology.
In an interview with India's online news channel,
News18 (
an affiliate of CNN International
) Gagandeep Kang stated that "she was 'delighted' that her research designed and done in India has been recognized. As a medical researcher trained in India at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, she believes that 'our training and ability is second to none.'"
The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. The society has included many leading scientists over the past four centuries including Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
Dr. “Cherry” Kang’s membership into The Royal Society places her amongst a group of very notable alumni whose achievements reflect the manifestation of CMC founder Dr. Ida S. Scudder's vision of excellence in healthcare, education, and research.
Our heartfelt congratulations go out to Dr. Kang!
