Blog

Radhakrishna Pillai: Remembering Dr. R. Sankaranarayanan – A Titan of Cancer Prevention

iarc.who.int

Aug 4, 2025, 20:38

Radhakrishna Pillai: Remembering Dr. R. Sankaranarayanan – A Titan of Cancer Prevention

Radhakrishna Pillai, Chairman at Sraman Life Sciences Private Limited, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Remembering Dr. R. Sankaranarayanan: A Titan of Cancer Prevention

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Dr. R. Sankaranarayanan, a dear colleague, brilliant oncologist, and one of the world’s foremost champions of cancer prevention and public health equity.

Sankaranarayanan and I began our professional journeys together at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Trivandrum in the mid-1980s. Even in those early days, his commitment to evidence-based cancer control and equitable care was unwavering. He would go on to serve the world through the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, where he led pivotal global studies that brought life-saving screening and vaccination strategies to underserved populations.

Our paths reconnected in 2008 when he reached out to explore establishing the landmark “three vs two dose” HPV vaccine trial in India. He was convinced that RGCB, where I was then Director, could deliver the rigorous immunogenicity studies needed for this transformative work. That collaboration became a cornerstone in the scientific journey that led the world toward simplified and accessible HPV vaccination strategies and eventually, to the adoption of the single-dose schedule by WHO.

Working with Sankaranarayanan was a masterclass in humility, clarity, and integrity. He never chased accolades, yet his contributions changed global policy. He believed science must ultimately serve people, especially those in the margins.

Today, the global health community has lost a quiet giant. I have lost a friend and trusted collaborator. His legacy lives on in the millions of lives protected by the vaccines and policies he helped shape.

Rest in peace, Dr. Sankaranarayanan. Your impact is eternal.”

In Memoriam: Dr. Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan (1952-2025)