Soumya Swaminathan is the new Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO). She is an indian paediatrician and clinical scientist known for her work in tuberculosis. On 3 October 2017, she has been appointed as the Deputy Director General of Programmes (DDP) at the WHO by the Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Most recently, she has been working as Secretary, Department of Health Research - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of Biomedical research.