Dr. Rajan Sankar is a distinguished physician, public‑health expert, and nutrition leader whose career has been dedicated to combating malnutrition and strengthening nutrition systems across India and South Asia. A medical graduate of the University of Madras with specializations in internal medicine and endocrinology, Dr. Sankar served for more than two decades in the Indian Army Medical Corps, retiring as a colonel, where he led clinical work and research before transitioning to large‑scale public‑health practice.

After his military career, Dr. Sankar brought his deep clinical insight to public‑health nutrition, working with international organizations such as UNICEF India as a nutrition specialist and with the Micronutrient Initiative as a senior technical advisor. He then spent nearly a decade as Country Manager (India) and Regional Representative for South Asia at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), where he played a central role in establishing and scaling nutrition programs in India, Bangladesh, and neighboring countries.

At Tata Trusts, Dr. Sankar has served as Senior Advisor for Nutrition and as the Founding Director of The India Nutrition Initiative (TINI)—a flagship platform focused on strategic, multi‑sectoral approaches to reduce undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and stunting among vulnerable populations. In these roles, he has championed evidence‑based programming, cross‑sector partnerships with government and civil society, and large‑scale interventions aligned with national efforts such as the National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan).

Dr. Sankar’s influence extends beyond program leadership: he has published over 100 scientific papers in national and international journals, contributed to policy‑level steering committees like the Government of India’s Universal Salt Iodisation initiative, and serves on boards such as the NDDB Foundation for Nutrition. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to improving nutritional outcomes through science, systems thinking, and collaborative action that bridges public, private, and community partners.