Integrating sex and gender in cancer research: Why and how to advance more equitable practice
Event
Chhavi Bhandari
Profile
Chhavi leads the Impact & Engagement programme of work in India with activities including advocacy, policy engagement and community engagement to help increase the impact of the institute’s health and medical research.
She is an MBA with multi-disciplinary experience in the healthcare sector. She has worked with national and state governments, hospitals, NGOs, universities, pharmaceuticals, medical-technology, multilateral organisations and insurance companies, globally, as part of her consulting and management roles in India, Australia and the UK.
Inika Sharma
Profile
Inika Sharma is a research assistant working at the Meta Research and Evidence Synthesis Unit. Inika has a background in Psychology, having received her MSc in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology from King’s College London. Prior to that, she completed her undergraduate in Psychology (BA Hons) from the UC Berkeley. She has varied previous research experience, primarily in the fields of mental health and child development. Her research interests include effective and accessible interventions for mental illness that can be feasibly administered in LMIC (Low- and Middle-Income Country) settings. She has previously worked as a researcher at IIM Bangalore.
Health 10x Accelerator
Since 2019, the Health 10x Accelerator has supported Australia’s brightest health and medtech entrepreneurs in developing affordable and scalable solutions to the world’s most pressing unmet health and medical needs.
Delivered in partnership with UNSW, the 10-week program provides startups with funding, mentorship, and resources to navigate regulatory pathways, refine investment strategies, and scale globally. Key partners, including Australian Medical Angels, Virtus Health, and Luminary Partners - Ignite, offer additional support in coaching, investment, and specialised expertise.
In 2025, Health 10x will partner with the UNSW Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (iHealthE) to further drive innovation. Startups will gain access to state-of-the-art facilities, collaboration spaces, and commercialisation specialists, enhancing their ability to create impactful solutions that transform global health outcomes, particularly in underserved markets.
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Embracing technology
For over a decade, our award-winning digital platform SMARThealth has already been empowering frontline community health workers to identify, refer and manage early signs of cardiovascular disease in local communities in India and Indonesia. Over a decade later, our technology is evolving, now using a bespoke large language model chatbot to remove in-built gender bias in guideline-based advice for pregnant women.
In Australia, we’re using machine learning to be able to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease in women using routine screening mammography, which could potentially lead to a low cost “two for one” screening test that may be more accurate than traditional methods.
SMARThealth ChatGPT : Supporting community health workers to provide guideline-based maternal care in rural IndiaLearn more
Predicting cardiovascular risk using routine mammograms
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At The George Institute, we believe that everyone has the right to a healthy life. Through rigorous, high-quality research that transforms discovery into action, we're on a mission to improve the health of millions of people worldwide.
Strengthening global efforts to build a resilient healthcare workforce
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Evidence2Policy 2025: Bridging research and policy to achieve progress on NCDs, gender equity, and UHC
Event
Anchal Rastogi
Profile
Anchal Rastogi is the Chief Data & Digital Officer at The George Institute for Global Health, leading the Institute’s global data and digital transformation strategy. Based in the Hyderabad office, Anchal is responsible for modernising systems, strengthening digital infrastructure, and unlocking the full value of one of the Institute’s most powerful assets – its data. He works closely with colleagues across research, operations, and corporate services to ensure platforms are secure, connected, and built to scale.
Anchal joined The George Institute in 2025 from GE Healthcare, bringing nearly two decades of experience shaping IT strategy and delivering complex transformational programs across the medical device, semiconductor, and financial services sectors. In his most recent role as Global Director of Data & Analytics, he led enterprise-wide initiatives in digital transformation, machine learning, generative AI, cloud data platforms, and CRM implementation.
He has successfully led global, cross-functional teams to develop and deploy data-driven solutions that improve both clinical and strategic business outcomes. Alongside his leadership credentials, Anchal is a recognised thought leader and a passionate advocate for the power of data, AI, and emerging technologies.
Anchal holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science & Engineering and post graduate leadership programme in Business Analytics and AI from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. He holds a deep personal interest in robotics and Internet of Things systems and is committed to building a digitally confident, agile Institute equipped to collaborate globally and act with clarity and precision.
Emerging thought leaders - 2023 cohorts
Our emerging thought leaders are passionate about driving change and taking on current challenges to improve health worldwide. As early and mid-career professionals, they offer new perspectives and innovative ideas to push boundaries and make advancements in health research, treatments and policy. Meet our emerging thought leaders and discover how they are making meaningful change.
Allison GainesPhD candidate, The George Institute for Global HealthMore info about Allison GainesPhD candidate, The George Institute for Global HealthAllie Gaines is a non-communicable disease epidemiologist and a PhD candidate jointly at Imperial College London and The George Institute for Global Health, focusing on food policy and the sustainability of the packaged food supply. She is a member of the Grantham Institute’s Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training programme. Her research primarily involves the use of large population databases connecting climate change information to food
From research to the real world: How implementation science can drive NCD action
News / Opinion piece
Our Innovation
Healthcare around the world is changing. Improvements in technology, diagnostics and treatments mean that many people around the world are living longer, healthier lives.
But not everyone is able to benefit, and significant health inequities remain. We’re harnessing the power of innovation to tackle the world’s most pressing health challenges, with a focus on those who need them most.
By combining quality research, emerging technologies, and strategic partnerships, we are transforming innovative ideas into real-world solutions.
From enhancing healthcare delivery to addressing unmet global health needs, we aim to create lasting impact through collaboration and creativity.
Cydonie Greenaway Genovate program manager at The George Institute, on stage at the UNSW Founders Health10x awards
Key areas of innovation
Re-imagining large scale clinical trial design, boosting diagnostic accuracy with AI and building the skills of tomorrow’s leaders are just some of t