Puducherry: Eminent neuropathologist Dr Chitra Sarkar has been appointed as the new President of the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), the institute announced on Thursday.

Dr Sarkar, a distinguished academician, clinician and researcher, has over four decades of experience in teaching, clinical practice and research. She has made pioneering contributions to neuropathology, particularly in neuro-oncopathology and molecular oncopathology.

Since 2018, she has served as President of AIIMS, Kalyani, providing leadership in institution building and academic development. She is widely recognised as one of India's leading clinician-scientists and has been featured among the “100 Distinguished Women in Science in India” by the Indian Academy of Sciences and as one of three pioneering “Women in Neurosciences in India” by Neurology India in 2019.

Dr Sarkar has authored over 400 peer-reviewed publications and 34 book chapters, earning more than 11,000 citations. She edited the book Essentials of Diagnostic Surgical Neuropathology and has contributed to WHO classification systems for CNS, pediatric and endocrine tumors. She is also the only Indian member of the CIMPACT-NOW consortium of the International Society of Neuropathology.

JIPMER Director Dr Vir Singh Negi welcomed Dr Sarkar and briefed her on the institute's milestones and future projects. “Her appointment marks a significant milestone for JIPMER and will strengthen its role as a premier centre for medical education, research and healthcare,” he said.