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Reflections from Academy Member Prof. Mirza S. Baig

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. It comes from genuine hard work, patience, and above all, integrity.”

Published July 2, 2025

By Mirza S. Baig, PhD
Academy Contributor

Mirza S. Baig

Nearly a decade ago, I had the honour of being featured in the #IAmNYAS series by The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy). Looking back, my journey as an immunologist and Academy member has been shaped by perseverance, sincere effort, and a deep commitment to advancing human health. I am currently serving as a professor at one of India’s premier institutions, the Indian Institute of Technology Indore, and I feel truly grateful that my teamwork has received global recognition.

I draw my earliest inspiration from my father; a civil engineer whose dedication and values continue to guide me in my journey as a scientist and mentor. Whatever I have been able to achieve has come from following some basic mantras—and I share them in the hope that they might help others on their own paths.

I’ve always drawn inspiration from many people. Whenever I see work that truly impacts human health—even if it brings us just one step closer—I feel motivated to do more.

After earning my Ph.D. from the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow in 2008, I pursued postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. These formative experiences solidified my interest in translational immunology and cancer biology, which now form the core of my research efforts. The pathbreaking research published from my lab, landed up in high-impact journals such as the Journal of Experimental Medicine and Frontiers in Immunology. Our work in translational immunology, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer biology has been honoured with multiple prestigious national and international awards.

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. It comes from genuine hard work, patience, and above all, integrity. There are no shortcuts in research—only the steady climb.

I admire the collaborative spirit in science, celebrating teamwork, shared success, and mentorship. Over the years, I have been invited to speak and collaborate with leading institutions around the world, including the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University.

Research is not a one-man show. It’s a team effort—from collaboration within the lab to partnerships across national and international laboratories. That’s when science becomes truly meaningful.

My lab has advanced the mechanistic understanding of chronic inflammation and cancer, identifying promising therapeutic targets for future interventions. We are actively engaged in anti-inflammatory drug discovery, with some drug candidates currently in advanced stages of development. These discoveries are deeply interconnected with our previous work, creating a strong foundation upon which our current research is built. Each new finding not only reflects continuity but also shapes the future direction of my scientific exploration.

Research is like untangling a knotted thread: success lies in finding the right starting point and steadily navigating through complexity with focus and patience.

Even outside the lab, science occupies my mind (and my heart).

It might sound excessive, but an exciting publication or a new idea can completely absorb me. On a lighter note, I enjoy traveling with my family.

I believe that when science is pursued with passion and purpose, it can positively impact lives—not only through research and discovery, but also through mentorship and service. As we look ahead, I sincerely hope that my journey may, in some small way, encourage and inspire the next generation of scientists, mentors, and changemakers within the global scientific community—not just through the past decade, but for many decades to come.

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