Dr. S Srikanta

Dr Sri S Srikanta, MD, FACE, is the Medical Director, Senior Consultant, Founder and Managing Trustee and Gardner (Mentor), Endocrinology Diabetes at Samatvam Endocrinology Diabetes Center, Jnana Sanjeevini Medical Center, and Samatvam: Science and Research for Human Welfare Trust [premier health care institutions focusing on Science - Spirituality synthesis in the context of health care, education, research and social work / charity] in Bangalore, India, where he is working since 1993. He is a Post Graduate MD [Internal Medicine] from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, and was a Fellow in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism from Duke University Medical Center, USA. He was a Fellow, Faculty and Investigator, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center, USA. His initial research work [which began in India – profile and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and immunoassays for islet cell autoantibodies], and then subsequently blossomed in USA], was focused on islet beta cell life, death, and immortality? - destruction, degeneration, regeneration, protection, preservation, immortality etc. His scientific work has led to fundamental discoveries in the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of autoimmune beta cell destruction, pre-type 1 diabetes, molecular biology and functions of islet cell antigens and autoantigens etc. His discoveries included the elucidation of preclinical autoimmune beta cell dysfunction and destruction, the documentation of the anamnestic autoimmune beta cell destructive phenomenon [recurrent autoimmune insulitis during monozygotic twin to twin transplants], and the identification and molecular and functional characterization of a novel series of islet and endocrine cell differentiation antigens. These pioneering and foundation discoveries have paved the way for a large body of subsequent scientific work globally, towards preclinical prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes in animal models, and potentially in humans. Antigen-specific islet beta cell vaccination, targeted immunotherapy, and eradication of type 1 diabetes remain highly cherished goals of scientists’ worldwide. During this period, Dr. Srikanta was one of the youngest [age 29] Faculty at Harvard Medical School and Joslin Diabetes Center, and the Clinical Investigator Awardee and Physician Scientist of National Institute of Health, USA. Returning to India in 1987, relevant to the contemporary Indian society, his research and service focus changed almost diametrically from molecular biology to “molecular sociology” of diabetes mellitus. His mission was to design and implement state of art health care delivery in the field of Endocrinology Diabetes, relevant to all socioeconomic sections of the nation, with an emphasis on diabetes care in resource-limited settings. Besides demonstrating and disseminating socially relevant and cost effective unique diabetes patient care, health education and empowerment programs and models throughout the country, he continued to train and nurture, a large number of young Endocrinologists-Diabetologists [as well as other medical specialists], Diabetes Educators, Physician Assistants, MBBS, MD and PhD students, Community Health / Social Workers, Health Administrators etc, who themselves have risen to higher echelons of science, medicine, and health care world over [India, USA and other parts of overseas]. He has served as Assistant Director, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He has also served as Professor and Head of Department Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Chief, Center for Endocrine Sciences at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, India.He was a Visiting Professor at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, (Pancreas and islet transplantation program) and Visiting Clinician at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, and University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, USA. He is a Fellow of American College of Endocrinology (FACE). Besides his role as Medical Director and Senior Consultant, at Samatvam Endocrinology Diabetes Center, Jnana Sanjeevini Medical Center, Dr. Srikanta also serves as Chairperson, Senior Consultant and Faculty at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS), Sagar Hospital and Shanthi Hospital and Research Center, Vikram Hospital etc Bangalore, India.