(Head, MGM Center for Genetic Research & Diagnosis – MGM New Bombay Hospital) –
In today’s healthcare landscape, institutions earn distinction not just through cutting-edge treatments, but via robust systems, ethics, and enduring patient trust. As technology and private capital redefine the sector, the true test lies in harmonizing innovation with clinical integrity and human-centered care, transforming hospitals into vital hubs where science, policy, economics, and compassion intersect.
Amid this evolution, embedding specialized fields like genetics into everyday clinical practice is revolutionizing diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized treatment. Dr. Bani Bandana Ganguly, Head of the MGM Center for Genetic Research & Diagnosis at MGM New Bombay Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400703, Maharashtra, leads this charge, bridging lab breakthroughs to bedside impact with unmatched scientific rigor and clinical insight.
Her transformative contributions have redefined genetic diagnostics in India, earning her the title of India’s Most Inspiring Woman Healthcare Leader 2025. As a trailblazing figure, Dr. Ganguly embodies the visionary leadership propelling Indian healthcare forward.
A Lifetime in Genetics
Dr. Bani Bandana Ganguly has nearly 39 years of experience in genetic research and diagnostics. She grew up in a remote village near Joyrambati, better known as the birth place of Holi Mother Sarda Devi, the divine wife of Ramkrishna Paramhansa Dev (the guide and philosopher of Swami Vivekananda), in the Bankura district of West Bengal and moved to Kolkata in 1978 for higher education. She completed her BSc (Honours) from Scottish Church College and her MSc from Ballygunge Science College both under the University of Calcutta, Kolkata securing third position in the university.
Although formally trained in botany, her academic orientation shifted decisively to human genetics. Her early work focused on cytogenetics and chromosomal abnormalities, which laid the foundation for her doctoral research in genetic toxicology. Her PhD examined the genotoxic potential of tin compounds across plant, animal and human systems. Her PhD was awarded in 1989 following foreign evaluation, then mandatory at the University of Calcutta. In the immediate aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, she contributed to a multicentric, double-blinded study on genetic abnormalities in methyl isocyanate-exposed populations.
Her subsequent career included research positions at the Indian Statistical Institute and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, where she worked in radiation biodosimetry. Her early career was marked by national recognition, including the ISCA Young Scientist Award in 1987 from the then Prime Minister and Dr. A.R. Gopal Ayenger Young Scientist Award from the Indian Association of Radiation Protection at BARC in 1992.
Besides awards and felicitations, her book on Genetics and Neurobiology of Down syndrome and over 120 publications in peer- reviewed journals further add to her achievements.
Transition to Clinical Diagnostics
Moving from institutional research to applied diagnostics, Dr. Ganguly established India’s first CAP-accredited genetic diagnostic laboratory, serving centres across India and neighbouring countries. She joined MGM New Bombay Hospital in 2003 to build a hospital-integrated genetic diagnostics and research facility for interacting with patients/families.
Role at MGM and Educational Impact
At MGM, Dr. Ganguly oversees genetic diagnosis and counselling for heritable disorders, cancer cytogenetics and hematological malignancies, besides genetic research and imparting education and training.
She has supervised over 40 students from institutions including SRM University, Anna University, VIT, Amity University, D.Y. Patil University and many others.
She also played a key role in establishing MSc and PhD programmes in Medical Genetics at MGM Institute of Health Sciences.
Under her leadership, the MGM Center for Genetic Research and Diagnosis became the first genetic diagnostics centre in Navi Mumbai and the first in the region licensed for prenatal diagnosis.
