Jio Institute aspires to address humanity’s most pressing challenges through impactful interdisciplinary research. Dr Varun Aggarwala’s diligent work exemplifies the institution’s mission to transform personalised health and wellness through advanced science and innovation.
Dr Varun Aggarwala, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Life Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, leads research into the human and animal microbiomes—complex ecosystems that influence overall health. His work is deeply aligned with the vision of Jio Institute’s Chairman and Chairperson, focusing on addressing critical health challenges through transformative science. His primary research centres on understanding the gut, skin, and vaginal microbiomes, exploring how microbial communities interact and evolve over time. Factors such as diet, antibiotics, and microbial carrying capacities play crucial roles in shaping these ecosystems, and his findings have led to significant advancements in microbiome-based therapies, including personalised probiotics and stool transplants.
Dr Aggarwala’s research is complemented by his role as a mentor to budding scientists, encouraging new ideas and collaborations within his team. In addition to his research, he teaches Probability and Statistics, with plans to expand Jio Institute’s offerings by introducing courses on Genomics and Drug Design, Computational Biology, and Personalised Health in the AI-driven world as the institution grows its engineering and technical programmes.
Dr Aggarwala chose this area of research because it allows him to focus on both fundamental discoveries—such as understanding how microbes interact—and translating these findings into tangible outcomes, including improved patient care and the development of new drugs. His interdisciplinary background, which began with studies in Computer Science and Mathematics at IIT, was further enriched by advanced training in Computer Science and Statistics at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his PhD at the Perelman School of Medicine at UPenn and pursued a fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital. This diverse academic foundation enables him to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical applications, making a meaningful impact on the health of both humans and animals.
Jio Institute, inspired by leading institutions such as Stanford and Harvard, aspires to become a world-class research university offering deep-tech solutions and addressing critical global challenges. Dr Aggarwala’s work, which focuses on personalised health, the development of new drugs, and wellness solutions, is perfectly aligned with this mission. His efforts underscore the institution’s commitment to innovation that translates laboratory discoveries into tangible benefits for society, advancing both health and technology to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges.