RG

Rahul Gajbhiye

National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Memorial Medical College Amravati

ORCID iD 0000-0003-3864-1818
Follow

About

Dr. Rahul Krishnaji Gajbhiye, MBBS, PhD, FNASc, is a physician-scientist and Scientist E (Deputy Director) at the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), Mumbai. He heads the Clinical Research Laboratory and Andrology Clinic, and serves as Nodal Officer of the Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU), Vani, Maharashtra. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc), and was recognised among the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Elsevier and Stanford University in 2024.
Dr. Gajbhiye earned his MBBS from Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Medical College, Amravati, and PhD in Applied Biology from Mumbai University, India, where his dissertation focused on proteins involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. He received advanced training as a Frontiers in Reproduction Fellow (USA, 2008) and an INSA Indo-Australia Early/Mid-Career Fellow (University of Queensland, 2017–2018). His research integrates basic science, clinical medicine, and implementation research across four domains:
1. Endometriosis and Adenomyosis:
o Principal Investigator of the ECGRI study, India’s first national clinical-genetic study on endometriosis across 19 hospitals and nine states.
o Holds an Indian patent on non-invasive diagnostics for endometriosis.
o Contributed as an Advisor to global policy documents for WHO, ICMART, and IFFS.
o Contributed to the research priority policy paper for India and Sri Lanka on endometriosis and adenomyosis.
o Delivered the first-ever keynote lecture by an Indian scientist at the World Congress on Endometriosis (2025).
2. Male Infertility and Andrology:
o Identified novel genetic causes of male infertility, including CFTR-related CBAVD in Indian men, and detected novel candidate genes in non-CFTR CBAVD
o Established translational andrology services through the NIRRCH Andrology Clinic.
o Published highly cited reviews and research articles advancing reproductive genetics.
3. Maternal and Perinatal Health:
o Founder of the PregCovid Registry, India’s first national registry of pregnant women with COVID-19, which shaped India’s policy on vaccinating pregnant women.
o Published landmark studies on pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Obstetrics and Gynecology, BMJ Open, International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, and other high-impact journals.
4. Snakebite and Rural Health Innovation:
o Led national implementation research on prevention and management of snakebite envenoming in tribal and rural India.
o Contributed to the drafting of India’s National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE).
o Developed educational materials, treatment flowcharts, and trained thousands of doctors nationwide.
o Strengthened rural health systems through the establishment of two MRHRUs (Dahanu and Vani, Maharashtra).
Dr. Gajbhiye has authored 100+ peer-reviewed publications (H-index 28), several book chapters, technical reports, and policy briefs. He has secured over 18 extramural grants as Principal Investigator (PI)/Co-PI from DBT, DST, ICMR, and international funders, in addition to co-leading multiple collaborative projects. His work has advanced translational diagnostics, public health strategies, and precision medicine approaches in reproductive health and tropical diseases.
He serves as Associate Editor for PLOS Global Public Health and PNAS India, Editorial Board Member of the e-Journal of Endometriosis Society India, and peer reviewer for leading journals. He is Ambassador of the World Endometriosis Society, Board Member of the Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, Research Advisor for the Endometriosis Society India.
His recognitions include the Professor N. R. Moudgal Oration Award (ISSRF, 2022), INSA Indo-Australia Fellowship (2017), Frontiers in Reproduction Fellowship (USA, 2008) and DBT-Wellcome India Alliance Clinical and Public Health Intermediate Fellowship (2019–2024). In 2024, he was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc).
Beyond research, he is deeply committed to mentorship and capacity-building, training medical graduates, postgraduates, and faculty across India in clinical research, grant writing, and public health implementation. His leadership of MRHRU Vani fosters innovation in tribal healthcare delivery and strengthens rural research infrastructure.
Through his diverse contributions spanning laboratory science, clinical services, rural health systems, and global health policy, Dr. Gajbhiye exemplifies the role of a modern clinician-scientist translating research into real-world impact.

Employment

  • National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health Scientist

Education

  • Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Memorial Medical College Amravati MBBS
  • National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health PhD

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (112)