This is the story of Dr. Priya Abraham, an Indian scientist, medical doctor and one of the leading virologists in the country.
When the entire world was battling COVID-19 with full force, this Indian woman scientist was at the forefront of the country’s battle with the virus.
From handling the logistics of sending the testing kits to various testing labs to keeping a close watch on all new emerging variants, she and her teams enabled India to make huge strides in the direction of curbing the spread of the virus.
Dr. Priya is from Kottayam, Kerala. She got her MD and PhD in biology from Christian Medical College Vellore in 1981. At CMC, she led the Clinical Virology section.
Priya became the director of ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, just two months before COVID-19 hit India.
Dr. Priya’s leadership at CMC’s Clinical Virology section, initially focused on hepatitis and human papillomaviruses, laid the groundwork for her expertise in handling viral infections, a skill set instrumental in the battle against COVID-19.
Within just two months of Priya joining NIV in November 2019, the institute identified a sample that later became the country’s first confirmed Covid-19 case.
Dr Priya, with her team, made a breakthrough by isolating the coronavirus. This gave India a first-mover advantage and helped in understanding the disease better. Later, it helped in the making of the country’s vaccine story.
The NIV succeeded in reducing the testing time of Covid-19 samples to just four hours a sample from 12-14 hours, a significant feat that increased the number of testing.
They efficiently handled logistics, distributing testing kits to various labs, and monitored emerging variants. In September 2023, Priya was honored as a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.
Priya has been part of committees for various viral infections, advised the World Health Organization, and served on the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Scientific Advisory Committee. She’s also been involved in national research on viral infection surveillance.
Priya Abraham looks back on a tough time when she was a young mom trying to balance work and family. Thankfully, her husband and parents’ strong support helped her stay focused on her job.
What do you think makes Dr. Priya Abraham a good leader, especially during the fight against COVID-19? Share your thoughts!
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