Maharaj Kishan Bhan (1947 - 2020) was an Indian pediatrician and clinical scientist.
MK Bhan's academic journey began at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune, where he graduated in 1969. His passion for pediatric health led him to specialize in nutrition, pediatric gastroenterology, and infectious diseases at the University of Delhi. After stints at prestigious institutions in Kabul and Chandigarh, he returned to Delhi in 1979 to join the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where his life's work truly began.
In the mid-1980s, while working as a pediatrician at AIIMS, Bhan made a fortuitous discovery. He encountered children infected with a naturally attenuated strain of rotavirus who, remarkably, showed no signs of illness. Recognizing the potential of this strain in developing a vaccine, Bhan isolated and studied it, marking the beginning of a journey that would culminate in India's first indigenously developed vaccine in over a century.
Bhan's collaboration with Dr. Roger Glass, now Director of the NIH Fogarty International Center, led to the creation of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program in 1987. This partnership, along with Bhan's unwavering vision and energy, overcame numerous challenges, including the selection of a commercial partner. Bharat Biotech, then a small Indian company, rose to the occasion with the support of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and other partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The result was ROTAVAC, a vaccine that has saved countless lives and prevented hundreds of thousands of hospital admissions since its launch in March 2015.
Bhan's influence extended far beyond the laboratory. As Secretary of the Indian Government's DBT, he introduced novel ideas that bridged the gap between basic sciences and clinical medicine. He founded the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and launched the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
His global impact was profound. As an adviser to the Prime Minister of India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and numerous other organizations, Bhan's insights shaped health policies and initiatives worldwide.
With his warmth, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to improving children's health, MK Bhan will always be remembered as a true pioneer and a beacon of hope in the world of pediatric medicine.