“Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies”

For the first time, a 201-year-old U.S. medical institution, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), is establishing a dedicated research chair that bridges ancient Tamil yogic and Siddha wisdom with modern biomedical science.At the forefront of this pioneering initiative is Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian, a Tamil-origin cell biologist and internationally recognized expert in breath science. His groundbreaking research explores how traditional practices, such as pranayama, deeply rooted in the Thirumandiram authored by Siddhar Thirumoolar, can support healing in cancer care, immune recovery, and the management of chronic diseases.Dr. Sundar is also receiving key support and encouragement from the Tamil community, including leaders of Tamil Chair Inc., the organization that established the Harvard Tamil Chair, notably Dr. Vijay Janakiraman and Dr. Sornam Sankar, who have played instrumental roles in promoting Tamil scholarship globally.The initiative, officially titled the “Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies” (TACIT), is seeking $1.5 million in public support to become a fully endowed academic chair. More than a cultural milestone, this effort stands as a global health initiative serving all of humanity while honoring the scientific and spiritual legacy of Tamil civilization.Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian actively encourages bicycle riding, jagging, running and writings, recognizing them as powerful tools for physical well-being and intellectual growth.On August 3, 2025, our journalist Murug Vaithianathan spoke with Dr. Sundar to learn more about this historic and visionary endeavor. Below is the full interview:Murug:Dr. Sundar, thank you for joining me. Let's start at the beginning. Can you tell us about where you're from and a little about your early life?Dr. Sundar: Thank you, Murug. I'm originally from Karambakkudi, a panchayat town and Taluk in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu. I grew up in a traditional Tamil household with five sisters. My father's name is Thiru Balasubramanian, and my mother's name is Thirumathi Saroja. I pursued my Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, followed by a Master's and Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Later, I moved to the United States for my postdoctoral research at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where I've continued my academic and scientific journey ever since.Murug:What sparked your decision to integrate Tamil traditions with medical science?Dr. Sundar: It began as a blend of personal experience and cultural curiosity. Growing up in Tamil Nadu, I was surrounded by Siddha medicine, yoga, and breath practices, such as pranayama. As a child, I even volunteered at my uncle Dr. Balakrishnan's Siddha clinic, which exposed me to the healing traditions rooted in our culture at an early age. At the same time, I was on a very different path academically,studying biochemistry, working in labs, and being trained in molecular science. A question started to form in my mind: Could we bring these ancient Tamil practices into the lab? Could we study them at the cellular and molecular level, just like we do with pharmaceutical drugs? That question stayed with me and ultimately shaped the trajectory of my career.Murug:How did Thirumoolar'sThirumandiram guide this journey?Dr. Sundar: After the 2004 Tsunami, I had the opportunity to visit my home in India, and during that trip, I came across a copy of Thirumandiram. I started reading it, and it completely changed the way I looked at both my heritage and my scientific work. Thirumandiram is a treasure trove of early Tamil yogic and spiritual science. Thirumoolar speaks in depth about the power of regulated breathing (மூச்சு)and its effect on the body's inner light, general health, and consciousness. He writes about Vaasi Yoga and kumbhaka (breath retention) as tools for healing and spiritual elevation. To me, these weren't just philosophical ideas;they were testable hypotheses. To me, these weren't just philosophical ideas; they were testable scientific hypotheses. I began to wonder: Can we measure the biological effects of these ancient breath practices? Can we quantify what Thirumoolar described centuries ago in modern scientific terms?During the 2013- -2017 research period, the Harvard Tamil Chair was gaining significant attention and support from the global Tamil community. That visibility inspired me to think, why not establish a Chair that brings Tamil Siddha wisdom into the realm of modern medicine? That was the moment the idea of the “Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies” was born, a vision to unite our ancient traditions with the tools of biomedical science.Murug: What is the formal vision of the Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies?Dr. Sundar: The vision of the Chair rests on three pillars: Mechanism, Benefits, and Dissemination.First, we aim to advance scientific research into breath-based therapies by studying the mechanisms through which practices such as pranayama affect the human body at the molecular and physiological levels.Second, we seek to translate ancient Tamil Siddha and yogic knowledge into measurable medical interventions that can benefit humanity. This includes validating traditional insights using tools like biomarker profiling, gene expression studies, and nervous system monitoring.Third, we are committed to developing non-invasive, low-cost healing protocolsespecially for people facing cancer, chronic, or emotional trauma. These include breath-based tools for survivorship, immune recovery, and stress resilience.We operate under a simple but powerful principle: “If a practice affects your biology, we should be able to measure it.” That's how we honor both the depth of Tamil wisdom and the rigor of modern science.Murug: What are some examples of scientific measurements you've performed?Dr. Sundar: We've used:• Reduce anxiety and depression• Improve salivary proteins involved in inflammation, nervous system, and immune functions• Can reduce the perception of stress• Help overall well-beingOne of our studies demonstrated that just 20 minutes of pranayama resulted in a statistically significant increase in NGF among practitioners in general. Among cancer survivors, there are other molecules such as GDNF with similar functions are elevated..Murug: That's incredible. Can you describe how this helps cancer patients?Dr. Sundar: Absolutely. Many cancer survivors experience fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and immune dysregulation. Our breathwork protocols:• Improve vagal tone, calming the body's fight-or-flight response• Enhance salivary gland function, which isessential after radiation therapy• Reduce cortisol levels, which helps immune recovery• Increase oxygenation and cellular regenerationWe're essentially showing that the mind can modulate the immune system, and breath is the bridge.Murug: How does this research differ from what's being done in other Integrative Medicine centers?Dr. Sundar: Most global centers focus on mind-body interventions such as yoga, acupuncture, tai chi, qi gong, and supplements. But our Chair is unique because:• We focus on Tamil Siddha heritage, particularly Thirumoolar's framework• Our research is biomarker-driven, meaning we track molecular outcomes• We work closely with oncologists, radiation medicine specialists, and neuroscientistsThis Chair is the first of its kind in the world to bring Tamil yogic science into a clinical medical research framework.Murug: You've also done community outreach. Can you talk about Glow Blue Week and LOWVELO?Dr. Sundar: Yes! During LOWVELO's Glow Blue Week, I led community breathwork sessions to raise awareness about cancer. We teach simple practices, such asbreathing, box breathing, and Thirumoolar pranayama (a breath hold practice)(equal breathing), and explain the science behind them. Advantageously, practitionersexperience immediate benefits, and we collect valuable health data with their consent.Murug: Why is it important to keep the word “Tamil” in the Chair's name?Dr. Sundar: Because it honors the origin of the knowledge. The Tamil Chair acknowledges the origins of these healing insights, Thirumoolar wrote in Tamil. His framework is rooted in Tamil Saiva Siddhanta. It also sends a message to the world: Tamil is not just a poetic language. It is a scientific language.Murug: What do you envision for the future of TACIT?Dr. Sundar: My goal is to build:• A global digital repository of Tamil wellness manuscripts• A biomedical training center where young researchers can study Thirumandiramalongside cell and molecular biology• Expand clinical trials on breathwork for cancer, neurodegeneration, and trauma recoveryMurug:How is the Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies different from other Tamil Chairslike those at Harvard, Berkeley, or Toronto?Dr. Sundar: That's a crucial distinction. Tamil Chairs at universities like Harvard, UC Berkeley, or the University of Toronto are typically housed in departments of language, literature, or South Asian studies. Their focus is on:Tamil grammar and philology, classical literature such as Sangam poetry or devotional works, and cultural and diaspora studies. These are incredibly valuable for preserving our literary and linguistic heritage.In contrast, the Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies, which we refer to as TACIT, is based at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) within a clinical research and oncology environment. This Chair is fundamentally different in purpose and scopefrom Global Scientific Outreach. In short, while Harvard and Berkeley preserve the voice of the Tamil language, TACIT seeks to prove the value of Tamil wisdom for global health.Murug:What kind of support are you hoping to receive from the Tamil communityand the broader global community for this mission?Dr. Sundar: This Chair may be rooted in Tamil wisdom, but its purpose is global healing. It is the first time that an American medical university, MUSC, has committed $500,000 to help establish a Chair named after a Tamil Siddhar, focusing on breath-based integrative therapies. That's historic.Now, we need to raise $1.5 million to formally endow and launch the ThirumoolarTamil Chair for Integrative Therapies (TACIT). This is a service not just for Tamils, but for all of humanity.“யாம்பெற்றஇன்பம்பெறுகஇவ்வையகம்”'May the joy we experience be shared by the whole world.'- as said by SaintThirumoolarI invite everyone, regardless of race, language, nationality, or background, to join us in supporting this mission. Whether you are a scientist, a teacher, a student, or simply someone who believes in ancient wisdom serving modern health, you can be part of this journey.Together, we can take Thirumoolar'slegacy from palm-leaf manuscripts to molecular medicine.To donate to the Thirumoolar Tamil Chair for Integrative Therapies/ TACIT initiative, please contact:• Dr. Sundar BalasubramanianEmail: balasubr@musc.edu• Tamil Chair Inc.https://tamilchair.org/thirumoolar-chair• MUSC Development Officehttps://web.musc.edu/givingTACIT — Thirumoolar Chair for Integrative TherapiesYour support helps integrate ancient Tamil wisdom with modern medical science.- Our Overseas CorrespondentMourougavelou Vaithianathan