VS

Sangwan, VS

Also known as: Virender S Sangwan

Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak

ORCID iD 0000-0002-8229-4158
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About

Dr Virender Singh Sangwan is a practising ophthalmologist hailing from Haryana, who first trained at the Maharshi Dayanand University, Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana, then at the L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, and later at the Harvard Medical School at Boston, MA, USA. He is the Innovation and Translational Research Director at Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital. What is admirable about him is his spirit of innovation, his ability to realise the implications of development in basic biology, and his willingness to adapt and apply it to clinical situations and obtain results. This willingness and ability to translate the bench's results into bedside application have made him a pioneer in clinical ophthalmic research. Dr. Virender Singh Sangwan has made innovative contributions to ophthalmic research, particularly in perfecting the limbal stem cell culturing method to produce transparent, stitchable epithelium and transplanting on needy human patients and substantially restoring their vision. His work represents the most significant successful human trial of stem cell technology anywhere. It is an excellent example of translational research from bench to bedside. He has been able to restore vision to over 800 patients whose eyesight was lost due to burns and damage to the ocular outer surface. The journal NATURE covered his work briefly about a few years ago. The impact of his contributions to the benefit of humanity is evident and admirable.
Additionally, he has devised a method to co-culture conjunctival and limbal stem cells and use the resultant tissue to restore vision in extreme cases of ocular outer surface damage. Dr. Sangwan was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Medical Sciences in 2006 and the National Technology Prize by the Department of Biotechnology in 2007 for these landmark contributions. His stem cell work to restore sight to otherwise untreatable conditions appeared in the October 2007 issue of FORTUNE, the most reputed business magazine in the world. Last year, India Today (a popular news magazine) named him one of the top 20 scientists in India.
Dr. Sangwan's commitment to fighting needless blindness extends beyond his research. As the Field Medical Director of the Flying Eye Hospital, Orbis International, a New York-based “not-for-profit” organisation, he has dedicated his time and expertise to training the next generation of ophthalmologists. His extensive travels to lecture and present his work at conferences abroad and his teaching as part of Orbis International’s training program in countries ranging from Romania to Jamaica and Peru to Myanmar highlights his dedication to education and training in the field.
He is the Founder Secretary of the Asia Cornea Society and current VP, recipient of the “achievement award” from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, past Section Editor of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, past Associate Editor of the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, and on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Ophthalmology. He received the Col Rangachari Award in 2005 from the All India Ophthalmology Society for best scientific work, Dr Vengal Rao Award for the best scientific paper at the annual meeting of Andhra Pradesh Ophthalmic Society meeting in 2003, and the Dr P Siva Reddy Researcher of the Year Award in 2002 in AP.
He was a member of the International Steering Committee of Lux Biosciences, USA, for the “LUCIDA” and “LUMINATE” drug development programs, which treat graft rejection and manage uveitis, respectively.
Dr. Sangwan's influence extends beyond his institute and the borders of India. As the Coordinator for Collaborative Research Projects between his institute and Vision CRC, a cooperative research centre initiative of the Australian government, he fosters international partnerships that drive ophthalmic research forward. His role as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Rochester, New York, USA, further underscores his global reach and influence in the field.
Dr Sangwan has been involved in the eye banking movement in the country and has served as Secretary of the Eye Bank Association of India, Country Director of the Ocular Surface Society, and Current President and founder Secretary of the Uveitis Society of India. He is married to Vandana, a dentist, and they have two children—the daughter Sonalika and the son Sahil.

Employment

  • Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital Director Innovation and Translation
    2018 - Present
  • L V Prasad Eye Institute Faculty
    1998 - 2018

Education

  • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Fellow, Research
    1996 - 1998
  • L V Prasad Eye Institute Fellow
    1992 - 1993
  • Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak Senior Residency in Ophthalmology
    1991 - 1992

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (399)