The Science of Living: Dr. Madan on Balancing Breakthroughs, Family, and Personal Growth

Guided by Resilience- Dr. Taruna Madan Gupta shares her magic ingredient with Pooja Narang for It's HER Saga

Dr. Taruna Madan Gupta, Head - Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - Division of Development Research, career is a reflection of her deep dedication and passion for science. As a respected senior scientist, she has made significant contributions to immunology while also impacting public health and medical innovation. While her main focus lies in immunology, Dr. Madan is also passionate about gene therapy and genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, seeing its potential to change the lives of families facing rare genetic disorders. Her journey is marked by resilience and adaptability, qualities instilled by her mentors. Whether mentoring students, guiding clinical trials, or balancing her personal and professional life, Dr. Madan embodies the qualities of a true scientist—curious, compassionate, and always working to make a difference.

Is there a particular project or area of research that you are personally passionate about, even if it is not primary focus of your work and why does it matter to you?

Gene therapy and genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, are not the core of my work as an immunologist, but they hold a special place in my heart. While my primary focus lies elsewhere, I can't ignore the profound impact these technologies are having and can have on families dealing with rare genetic diseases.

As a parent, watching a child suffer from an untreatable condition is a heart-wrenching experience. For these families, genome editing offers a glimmer of hope—a chance to rewrite the narrative of their child’s life. What makes these technologies truly remarkable is their potential to create personalized medicine, tailored to the unique genetic makeup of each patient.

Unfortunately, because these disorders are rare, they often don't attract the attention of large pharmaceutical companies. The lack of profitability makes them less appealing to big players in the industry. This is why it’s so important to me to support and advocate for the development of genome editing platforms. These platforms can be life-changing, offering personalized therapies that could make all the difference for a child battling a rare disease. And that, to me, is worth everything.

What is the most important lesson that you have learned from a mentor or colleague that you now pass on to others?

Resilience is something I've learned from my mentors, who have shown me what it truly means to keep going, no matter what.

One of my mentors faced spinal tuberculosis, but even when she couldn’t sit up, she kept reading and contributing to her work. Her strength taught me that no matter how tough things get, there’s always a way to push forward.

Another mentor dealt with a different challenge. During his PhD, his supervisor, realizing his worth, tried to keep him from moving on by questioning his work. It was a difficult time for him, but I learned that when one path seems blocked, there’s always another route to take.

Both mentors have shown me that it’s important to be like water—finding ways around obstacles and never giving up. Their examples have shaped how I approach challenges, always looking for a way to keep moving forward, no matter what.

If you can time travel to witness a moment in scientific history, what event would be and why would you choose it?

I don’t know. I would like to go back to history, while history is fascinating and full of important discoveries that have shaped our world, I find myself more drawn to the possibilities of the future. If I could time travel, I wouldn’t go back to the past. Instead, I’d leap forward to a time where we've found solutions to all infectious diseases and genetic disorders, a future where humanity is healthier, happier, and living in peace.

The events of the past have laid the groundwork for what we’re able to imagine and achieve today, and for that, I’m grateful. But my hope lies in the future—a future where we’ve overcome today’s health challenges and created a world where everyone can thrive.

Can you store share about a story in a about the time when your personal and work life intersected in a surprising or a meaningful way because there are time when you felt that your personal was supporting your professional, your professional was supporting your personal.

When I came to ICMR headquarters, I was given the responsibility of guiding teams conducting clinical trials and developing medical devices. It was an incredible opportunity to facilitate the growth of medical devices and IVDs (in vitro diagnostics). I had also developed an IVD myself, with support from DBT, and it was a pleasant surprise when the company selected by DBT for the IVD manufacturing test license ended up being the one my husband had joined while I was working on that technology. It was a special moment where both my personal and professional worlds came together, allowing me to develop that IVD in the best possible way.

Even when I moved to ICMR headquarters, my husband continued to play a vital role in my professional journey. He became a consultant in the medical device sector, often teaching me about the latest developments and helping me navigate the rapidly changing technology landscape. His insights into regulatory pathways and emerging devices have been invaluable. Personally, I feel fortunate to be in a space where my husband is not just my partner but also my teacher.

What is the most challenging personal obstacle you have to overcome? And what what shaped you? How did it impact you or how did it affect you?

Time management has always been a challenge for me, especially after getting married and starting a family. Balancing a career, raising a child, and caring for parents and in-laws isn’t easy for anyone, whether you’re a man or a woman. My husband and I both faced these challenges together, but it was particularly difficult because we were working in different cities.

As a mother, I had to juggle my career, family responsibilities, and the demands of motherhood, all while missing the physical presence of my husband, even though his support was always there. It was a challenging time, but it also taught me the importance of resilience and the strength that comes from facing difficulties as a team.

Anything funny in the lab like? You recall which you would like to share with us.

My students were just like me—serious and focused on their work—so there aren’t too many funny incidents. But there was this one intern who had a unique talent: no matter what, she always managed to break glassware. It became an inside joke in the lab. Whenever we heard the sound of something shattering, we didn’t even have to look—we knew she was hard at work!

If you weren’t an immunologist and researcher, what another career do you think you would have pursued?

I think I would have been a teacher because my students feel like family to me. Whether I’m guiding them through their master’s or PhD, the joy I get from helping them understand something new is unmatched. Teaching has always been close to my heart—I’ve even taught my cousins and their kids over the years. I’m always available to offer career guidance, no matter where I am in my career.

Just yesterday, an IPS official reached out to me for advice about his son, who had cleared NEET and secured a spot at IISER. The family was weighing the pros and cons of pursuing a medical career versus going to IISER. While I emphasized that the decision should ultimately be his, I also shared that the exposure and opportunities he’d get at IISER would be incredible. If his passion lies in clinical research, he could still pursue a master’s in public health or even explore programs in human biology, allowing him to follow his interests in clinical trials while also getting a broad education.

What's your idea for a holiday?

I absolutely love spending time in nature. Recently, my family and I had a fantastic adventure in Bir in Himachal Pradesh, where we went paragliding. It was an incredible experience that we’ll always cherish. We also tried scuba diving together in Andaman Islands, which, I must admit, was a bit nerve-wracking for me but equally unforgettable. These moments of exploring the natural world with my loved ones are truly special.

What makes you happy?

People, if around me are very happy. For example, I'm making you happy right now, so I'm happy. So, so that is my motivation. Whenever I'm doing something, if it is giving happiness to people or eventually it will be leading to betterment of people, that is my motivation factor.

How do you incorporate your scientific knowledge or approach into your daily life outside of work?

I love using my knowledge to help the people around me, whether it's guiding young people with their careers or supporting friends and family in their health journeys. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I did my best to encourage and help those affected, including my husband and son. I advised them on how to stay safe and manage their health, even suggesting they wait for their second vaccine dose when the virus was at its peak to avoid unnecessary risks.

In addition, my husband and I started an NGO called PUNJ, 'Psoriasis Undone for New Joy' to support people with psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions. Through this organization, we’re able to offer guidance and spread awareness, sharing our experiences to help others in similar situations.