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Priyanka Runwal, “The quest for a cure,” Chemical & Engineering News

ABOUT THE WORK: Mild. That’s how the global health community perceived sickle cell disease (SCD) cases in India. It took hematologists in the country decades to convince researchers and medical professionals—within India and abroad—that this genetic blood disorder can also result in severe, debilitating outcomes for many people with SDC in India.

More than 1 million people in India live with SCD, many of whom are people from tribal communities and other historically disadvantaged groups and weren’t represented in the clinical trials for the recently approved gene therapies. At a nearly $3 million price tag per patient, these approved options are especially unaffordable for low- and middle-income countries. Research efforts in India to develop such therapies that could cost a lot less and may be better suited to treat SCD patients in India are paramount.

Priyanka Runwal is a science, environment, and health journalist from India based in New York City. She’s a reporter at Chemical & Engineering News covering communities impacted by toxic pollutants or those left behind in the wake of scientific advances. Previously she covered the COVID-19 pandemic and other health stories as National Geographic's resident reporter. Priyanka's work has also appeared in The New York Times, Scientific American, STAT, BBC Earth, among other publications. She serves on the board of the National Association of Science Writers and mentors early-career science journalists as part of several programs. Priyanka is an ecologist by training and a graduate of the UC, Santa Cruz Science Communication Program.

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