Celebrating a remarkable milestone in medical research leadership

Celebrating a remarkable milestone in medical research leadership

We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone in the career of Professor Meena Balasubramanian, Clinical Director of Research at Sheffield Children’s, who delivered her inaugural lecture as Professor of Medical Genetics on Monday 16 June 2025.

Titled “Swimming Upstream: From Patient Curiosity to Lab Discovery,” Meena’s lecture captivated a packed audience at the University of Sheffield Medical School as she reflected on her personal and professional journey.

Meena shared how patient curiosity and compassion has driven both her clinical work and research, and her ambition to end what she describes as the ‘diagnostic odyssey’ many families affected by rare diseases go through.

Outlining her work on brittle bone disease, for which Sheffield Children’s hosts one of only four ‘Highly Specialised Services’ in England, Meena explored how that work coupled with her desire to develop new treatments, inspired her to open her own lab.

She ended by sharing her ambitions for Sheffield as a centre for research excellence and her plans for the future.

Meena said: “Giving my first lecture as a Professor of Medical Genetics was an unforgettable milestone, and a culmination of years of hard work, curiosity, and a continued passion for research.

“It takes a village to raise a clinical academic, and I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me on my journey so far, and to all those who joined me on Monday.”

Educated at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, in Bengaluru, India, Meena began her career as a neonatal doctor at the Jessop Wing in Sheffield, before embarking on clinical genetics training at Sheffield Children’s in 2008.

She went on to complete a higher research degree at the University of Sheffield, before becoming a Consultant in Clinical Genetics at Sheffield Children’s and a researcher at the University of Sheffield.

In 2024, she co-founded South Yorkshire Children and Young People Health Research (SCYPHeR), to help build collaboration between institutions across South Yorkshire and embed high-quality research and practice. She was made Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Sheffield in December 2024.

Meena continued: “My role as Professor compliments my position as Clinical Director of Research at Sheffield Children’s, enabling me to strengthen the relationships between the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, and the Trust — including through the SCYPHeR initiative.

“I also hope it will inspire other clinicians — including allied health professionals and nurses — to explore academic careers as we continue building our research capacity at Sheffield Children’s.

“I am hugely excited for what for the future holds and what we can achieve going forward, as we continue to work together to create a healthier future for children and young people.”

Ruth Brown, Chief Executive of Sheffield Children’s, said: “Here at Sheffield Children’s, research is at the heart of everything we do — driving innovation, improving outcomes for our patients, and giving children the very best start in life. We’re proud to be a place where ground-breaking ideas are translated into real-life treatments and therapies. 

“Meena’s leadership in this space has been instrumental, both for us as a trust and for the wider partnerships across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Meena continues to shape the future of child health through research that truly changes lives, and we are so proud of her achievements.”

Professor Mark Strong, Dean of the School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, added: “Deeply rooted in South Yorkshire, the University of Sheffield thrives on its collaborations with local partners, especially our long-standing relationship with Sheffield Children’s.

“These vital connections allow us to bridge academic excellence with real-world challenges, transforming groundbreaking health research into tangible improvements for our region’s health. We are delighted that Meena has delivered her inaugural lecture and are incredibly excited for her.”

You can find out more about research at Sheffield Children’s and how you can get involved by visiting our website at www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/research/take-part-in-research/