Professor George M Varghese

Dr. George M. Varghese is a distinguished clinician, teacher, and researcher with over two decades of expertise in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. He serves as a Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, where he also completed his medical education. His expertise is further shaped by specialized training at leading institutions, including the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Wayne State University, USA.

Dr. Varghese has made significant contributions to infectious disease and global health research, particularly in the areas of rickettsial infections, tuberculosis, melioidosis, rabies, and antimicrobial resistance. His pioneering research on scrub typhus has enhanced the understanding of the disease and revolutionized its diagnosis and management on a global scale.

An advocate for translating research into clinical practice, Dr. Varghese led the INTREST trial—a landmark multi-center randomized controlled trial on the treatment of severe scrub typhus. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this trial established a life-saving standard of care by demonstrating the superiority of combination therapy with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin, significantly improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Varghese holds key leadership roles in prominent national and international organizations. He is the President of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society (CIDS), President-Elect of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (RSTMH), UK, Council Member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

His prolific research publications, coupled with his instrumental role in establishing infectious diseases as a medical specialty in India, have earned him widespread recognition as a pioneer in the field, both nationally and internationally.