Dr. Abhaya Indrayan is a pioneering figure in medical biostatistics in India, widely recognized as the leading biostatistician in the country. With a career spanning over five decades, he has made exceptional contributions to biostatistics education, research, and health data analytics. He earned his MS and PhD in Statistics from The Ohio State University (USA) in a record time of just three years.

In 1995, Dr. Indrayan established India’s first Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, notably in a non-PG medical institution, which became a model later adopted by top institutions such as SGPGI, Lucknow and JIPMER, Puducherry. After his retirement as the Head of Department in 2010, he continues to serve as a Consultant Biostatistician at Max Healthcare, New Delhi.

Significant Achievements

• First and only biostatistician in India to be elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (as of 2025) – a prestigious body established by Dr. C.V. Raman.

• Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (1999) – a rare distinction for a non-medical professional at that time.

• Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (UK) and the Indian Society for Medical Statistics.

• Former President, Indian Society for Medical Statistics (2015).

• Authored over 300 publications, including more than 20 book chapters and 6 internationally acclaimed books, three of which are published in the United States.

• Conducted nearly 40 international projects for WHO, UNAIDS, and the World Bank, including developing comprehensive health indicator databases and HIV/STD epidemiological data for India.

• Recognized for Outstanding Research Service by the University of Massachusetts, USA.

• Created and led an online international course in biostatistics for over 20 years.

Notable Contributions

• Developed a medically integrated biostatistics curriculum for medical undergraduates and postgraduates in India.

• Proposed and developed original ideas, including:

  • Smoking Index

  • Objective measures of positive health

  • Assessment scoring system for research quality

  • Personalized statistical medicine

  • Methods for assessment of prediction models

  • A simple method for assessing agreement

  • Notable hypothesis: “Promote heart disease, stop cancer” – investigating selection of cause-of-death in the elderly.

• Delivered invited lectures and presented research at leading global institutions such as

  • The Ohio State University

  • University of Massachusetts

  • Ankara University

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA

• Supervised 5 PhD and 9 MD/MS theses in diverse fields such as Public Health, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Orthopedics.

Eligibility for Outstanding Researcher Award

In light of his groundbreaking contributions, prolific research output, and unmatched leadership in advancing biostatistics in India, Dr. Abhaya Indrayan is eminently eligible for the "Outstanding Researcher Award" in Scientific Laurels. His work has profoundly influenced both public health research and medical education, earning him global recognition and respect as a true visionary in his field.