- Scientist, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India
Dr Rahul Gajbhiye MBBS PhD is a clinician-scientist working at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
He completed his medical school at Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Memorial Medical College, Amravati, Maharashtra state, India, and obtained a PhD in applied biology at the University of Mumbai, India. He is a recipient of prestigious fellowships including the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Indo-Australia EMCR Fellowship, Burroughs Wellcome Fellowship. Dr Gajbhiye was also a visiting fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Australia.
He is an international ambassador for the World Endometriosis Society (WES) and a life member of Endometriosis Society of India and the Indian Society for Study of Reproduction and Fertility (ISSRF). He is the past member secretary of the Research Advisory Committee, Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU), Dahanu, Maharashtra state, India, and has contributed immensely to the establishment of MRHRU in Maharashtra state. He was also a member secretary of the Scientific Advisory Committee and Project Review Group of ICMR-NIRRH Field Units and coordinated the research programs at 31 field units of the ICMR-NIRRH located all over India.
Dr Gajbhiye is the recipient of research grants from international (WHO) and national funding agencies (ICMR, DBT, DST and DAE) and is currently heading the research programmes focused on the pathogenesis of endometriosis, non-invasive markers for the diagnosis of endometriosis, pregnancy outcomes in Indian women with endometriosis, genetic risks for endometriosis, and the association between endometriosis and ovarian cancer. He has published consistently nationally and internationally along with two book chapters. He is actively involved in the efforts of World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) for implementing the WERF EPHect Clinical Questionnaire (ECQ) and Standard Surgical Form (SSF). He is instrumental in translating the WERF EPHect ECQ into regional Indian languages. He is collaborating with the gynaecological laparoscopic surgeons and scientists in India as well as abroad with a vision of reducing the burden of endometriosis in India and globally.
Dr Gajbhive was appointed a WES Ambassador in 2018.