Dr. Giriraj Ratan Chandak is a Sir J. C. Bose Fellow at the CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, and Founder and CEO of Lightening Lives LLP, a social enterprise translating genomic research into community health impact. His work lies at the interface of medical genetics, epigenetics, and public health, with a strong emphasis on translational outcomes. Dr. Chandak studies the genetic and epigenetic basis of non-communicable diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and related traits, and develops polygenic risk score–based tools for predicting complex disorders. A major focus of his work is genetic screening, counselling, and management of rare but prevalent conditions, especially haemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anaemia, integrating genomics with community-level healthcare interventions. He has authored over 145 research publications in leading journals including Nature, Nature Genetics, and The Lancet. His contributions have been recognised through numerous honours, including election as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Medical Sciences, and the award of the Sir J. C. Bose Fellowship.
