Raman Bahal, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UConn, has been selected for the 2025 class of Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Scholars (ELHM) by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM).
Only 10 selections were made nationally to this group of early-to-mid-career professionals from a wide range of health-related fields, including pediatrics, infectious diseases, psychiatry, and biomedical engineering. The NAM’s ELHM program provides a platform for a new generation of leaders to collaborate with the NAM and its members to advance science, address persistent challenges in health and medicine, and spark transformative change to improve health for all.
“Dr. Raman Bahal’s selection as a 2025 Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine by the National Academy of Medicine is a tremendous honor and a testament to the groundbreaking work being done at the UConn School of Pharmacy,” says Philip Hritcko, dean of the UConn School of Pharmacy. “His innovative research at the intersection of pharmaceutical sciences and precision medicine continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in health care. We are proud to support Dr. Bahal in this prestigious national recognition.”
Bahal and his fellow scholars will engage in a variety of activities throughout the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine over a three-year term. These activities include meetings in Washington, D.C., with NAM leadership and members; planning an annual forum; participating in National Academies convening activities; publishing NAM Perspectives; and attending the NAM’s annual meeting each October.
“Congratulations to Dr. Raman Bahal on this well-deserved and prestigious recognition by the National Academy of Medicine,” says José E. Manautou, department head of pharmaceutical sciences. “Early on, we recognized Raman’s rare ability to transcend traditional boundaries, bringing together drug delivery, chemical biology, and beyond, to elevate our cross-disciplinary scholarship. As department head who has closely witnessed Raman’s progression, I am proud to see his innovative spirit and passion for advancing pharmaceutical sciences celebrated nationally, a testament to both his achievements and our department’s dedication to fostering the next generation of leaders in health and medicine.”
Bahal was born and raised in India and joined the faculty at UConn in 2017. He received his undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences from Punjabi University and his master’s degree in medical chemistry from India’s National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER).
“I am honored and humbled to receive this prestigious recognition,” says Bahal. “This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my team members, peers, and mentors from both current and previous institutions. I hope we can translate the technologies from bench to bedside that can be employed to mitigate diseases in patients.”
Bahal earned his doctorate degree in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University under the guidance of Danith Ly. During those studies, he focused on developing new-generation nucleic acids as an effective tool for gene regulation.
Bahal did his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Peter Glazer at Yale University. In collaboration with Glazer’s lab and W. Mark Saltzman of Yale, he showed how nanoparticle-delivered nucleic acids can be used for gene therapy.
Bahal’s current work and patents focus on nucleic acid chemistry and targeted drug delivery on targeting RNA and DNA inhibitors for various diseases. He’s exploring the possibility of targeted drug delivery at the interface of disease biology and bioconjugate chemistry. Bahal holds 12 provisional U.S. patents, three issued patents, and has published 80 papers in reputed international journals.
He received accolades from prestigious organizations, including the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), the Oligonucleotide Therapeutic Society, the RNA Society, and the NIPER. Bahal is a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Senior Member, having been elected to this position in 2024. In May, he received the 2025 Faculty Research Advising Award from the School of Pharmacy, which is presented annually to a full-time faculty member who has excelled as an advisor for undergraduate or Pharm.D. students conducting research.
“Congratulations to the new class of extraordinary young scholars in the National Academy of Medicine’s Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine program,” says NAM President Victor J. Dzau. “With their cross-cutting experiences, these exceptional leaders will be prepared to help catalyze transformative change, address our most urgent health challenges, and advance health and well-being for individuals and communities.”
The ELHM program facilitates opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and innovation among participants, NAM members, and experts across sectors. The next annual Emerging Leaders Forum, to be held in Washington, D.C., in April 2026, will allow the new group of scholars and invited participants to share their activities and insights on cutting-edge developments through collaborative work and interdisciplinary discussions among the nation’s rising leaders in health and medicine.
The National Academy of Medicine, established in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond. It serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as an advisor to the nation and the international community. Through its domestic and global initiatives, the NAM works to address critical issues in health, medicine, and related policy and inspire positive action across sectors. The NAM collaborates closely with its peer academies and other divisions within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
