George M. Varghese is a Professor and the Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, where he underwent his undergraduate and postgraduate medical training. With over three decades of experience as a clinician, teacher and researcher, George has extensive training in infectious diseases and tropical medicine in many centres of excellence, such as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Wayne State University, USA.

George has been an expert in infectious diseases and global health and currently serves on several national and international committees, including the expert committee of the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Governing Council of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society and Médecins Sans Frontières.

He has been honoured with several recognitions, such as the Guerrant International Young Investigator Award by the Infectious Disease Society of America, the MG Alexander Award in Tropical Medicine by the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society and the Linnaeus-Palme Visiting Professor by the Swedish Government for the pioneering work in rickettsial infections. Besides these recognitions, George is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

George is passionate about translating research from bench to bedside at the community level to combat tropical infections. Recently, he was awarded a Senior Fellowship by the Wellcome Trust DBT Alliance.