The National Academy of Medicine has elected 90 regular members and 10 international members for 2026, recognizing contributions to medical science, health care and public health.
The newly elected class includes five Indian Americans —Ashutosh Chilkoti, Vikhyat S. Bebarta, Kiran Musunuru, Kasisomayajula “Vish” Viswanath and Meena Seshamani, whose work spans biomedical engineering, emergency medicine, cardiovascular genetics, health communication and public health policy.
Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors in health and medicine. Members are selected by existing members for significant contributions to medical science, health care and public health.
Ashutosh Chilkoti, Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, was recognized for advances in drug delivery, protein purification and diagnostic technologies.
His work includes developing artificial polypeptides that entered clinical trials for sustained delivery of protein drugs. He also developed a method for purifying protein drugs and viral vectors without chromatography, advanced point-of-care diagnostic technologies and developed a technology designed to eliminate immune responses associated with PEGylated biologics.
Read: Two Indian American scientists receive NIH innovative research awards (October 12, 2026)
Vikhyat S. Bebarta, a professor and chair of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, was honored for research spanning emergency, trauma and brain health care.
Bebarta is also the founding director of the campus’ COMBAT Medical Research Center. His work involves clinical research across military, veteran and civilian health systems. The academy cited his contributions to emergency and acute care practices, health systems and national health and defense policy, as well as his development of military-civilian research partnerships.
Kiran Musunuru, Barry J. Gertz Professor for Translational Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, was recognized for discoveries involving cardiovascular disease and gene-editing therapies.
His research has identified genes and mechanisms involved in cardiovascular conditions. He has also contributed to somatic gene-editing treatments, including the first demonstration of therapeutic base editing in human patients and the development of the first bespoke gene-editing therapy administered to an individual patient, according to the academy.
Read: Two Indian American biomedical engineers named 2027 Siebel Scholars (October 16, 2026)
Kasisomayajula “Vish” Viswanath, Lee Kum Kee Professor of Health Communication at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, was elected for his work on communication science and health inequities.
The academy cited his contributions to translating communication research into public health practice. His work has influenced scholarship and practice in the field and has been used by local, national and international organizations.
Meena Seshamani, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, was recognized for work in Medicare, payment reform and public health. According to the academy, her contributions include advancing prescription drug affordability, expanding rural and women’s health services and protecting access to vaccines.
The new members bring the academy’s total membership to more than 2,600, including more than 200 international members. Members also commit to volunteering their expertise in National Academies activities, which include providing independent analysis and advice on health, science and public policy.