Professor
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Dr Alok Thakar MS, FRCS ed
Professor & Head, Otolaryngology & Head Neck Surgery
& Head - National Cancer Institute
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, INDIA
Dr Thakar received his training in Otolaryngology and Head-Neck Oncology at AIIMS, New Delhi, and subsequently in the UK. He currently serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology & Head-Neck Surgery and as Head of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
The focus of his work has been on Head-Neck Oncology and Skull Base Surgery, and in particular on optimizing outcomes and minimizing the disability following treatment of such illnesses. He has been instrumental in the development of Trans-Oral Laser Surgery, as also voice conserving oncosurgery, minimally invasive skull base surgery, and techniques for rehabilitation of facial nerve and lower cranial nerve paralysis. He pioneered the introduction of Trans Oral Robotic Surgery in the Indian subcontinent.
Dr Thakar’s research has included 20+ funded research projects, >450 research publications, >5500 citations, and 2 patent applications. His research contributions have included clinical, basic and translational research, and have been recognized by the award of the Shakuntala Amir Chand Award by the Indian Council of Medical Research, and a Gold Medal Award by the Neuro-Otological Society of India. He has availed of the Commonwealth Fellowship Award in the UK and the Indo-US Science & Technology Grant in the US to further develop the specialties of Skull Base Surgery and Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery at his institution.
He has recently been entrusted with the responsibility as Project Head of the Centre for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at AIIMS, New Delhi.