Dr. Heena Tabassum is a distinguished biomedical scientist and public-health researcher serving as Scientist E and Programme Officer at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. She is currently deployed as a technical expert at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), where her expertise supports scientific and regulatory initiatives. With a strong commitment to translating research into practical healthcare solutions, her work focuses on hematology, non-communicable diseases, and inherited blood disorders, particularly sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Dr. Tabassum has played an important role in advancing India’s efforts to improve the diagnosis and management of sickle cell disease. Among her notable contributions is her involvement in the validation of indigenous diagnostic kits under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, supporting the development and evaluation of affordable diagnostic technologies under the Make in India initiative. She has also contributed to the establishment of India’s first hospital-based registry for venous thromboembolic disorders, known as i-RegVed, helping strengthen the evidence base for research, clinical management, and public-health interventions. Her work extends to coordinating multicentric implementation research, capacity-building initiatives, and activities under the ICMR Nanomedicine Task Force.

Academically, Dr. Tabassum holds a PhD in Toxicology and has undertaken postdoctoral research in Germany. Her research experience spans toxicology, neuroscience, translational medicine, and public health. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and received recognition for her contributions to biomedical research, including the Best Woman Scientist Award from the Society of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists, India.

Driven by a commitment to scientific excellence and equitable healthcare, Dr. Tabassum continues to contribute to the development of evidence-based policies, accessible diagnostic technologies, and stronger research frameworks. Her work reflects the importance of connecting scientific innovation with national health priorities, particularly in improving early diagnosis, treatment pathways, and quality of life for people affected by inherited blood disorders.