An Oxford student has become the first Ayurvedic physician to be named a Champion of the British Society for Nanomedicine.
Eeshani Bendale, 27, is a Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery and is currently completing an MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care from the University of Oxford.
Recently, she was named a Champion of the British Society for Nanomedicine, becoming the first Ayurvedic physician to receive this accolade.
Nanomedicine is a branch of medicine that specialises in using nanotechnology in the treatment and prevention of disease.
The British Society for Nanomedicine aims to share news and raise awareness of ongoing research within the area of medicine with industry colleagues, academics, clinicians and members of the public.
Champions of the society range from early career researchers to lecturers and professors. They act as ambassadors for the society and are given the opportunity to present work and share insights at conferences and events around the UK.
Dr Bendale is one of just 13 champions, and she received the prestigious recognition in 2023 following her work in the field of nanomedicine and its implications in Ayurvedic medicine.
Dr Bendale’s interest in Nanomedicine began when she pursued an MSc in Nanomedicine at Swansea University Medical School, Wales. In her research, Eeshani works to bridge the gap between the Western and Indian concepts of Nanomedicine.
As a pioneer in her field, Dr Bendale’s aim is to combine the power of Ayurvedic healthcare with modern scientific techniques.
Through her work, Dr Bendale wants to raise awareness about Ayurvedic medicine and drive research in the field using a combination of Nanomedicine and Evidence-Based Medicine.
Dr Bendale said: “I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I’m excited to contribute to the society.
“Through the society, I recently had the chance to attend the NanoMed’23 conference in Liverpool, which was organised in partnership with the European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine, and it was a great learning experience.
“From an early age, I have been passionate about the benefits of Ayurveda. My ambition is to take Ayurvedic medicine and incorporate modern scientific methods to create evidence that can be applied to patients globally and used by healthcare professionals to inform clinical decisions.
“Ayurvedic medicine is slowly gaining recognition outside of India, but there is still very little awareness of the scientific evidence available that could be used to inform healthcare decisions.
“Whilst work has begun to compile data and research on Ayurvedic medicine, up to this point, only a tiny portion of this can be considered to be of high quality on a global scale.
“Ayurveda has a lot to offer and in order for it to reach and benefit patients worldwide, it deserves to be conveyed in a language that can be comprehended by the scientific world today.
It is essential that this process be explored and carried out whilst maintaining the original principles and authenticity of Ayurvedic medicine.”
Dr Bendale received her bachelor’s degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya in Pune, India. In 2022, she graduated from Swansea University with an MSc in Nanomedicine.
Currently, she is pursuing an MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care at the University of Oxford, where she was the first Ayurvedic physician ever to be selected for the course.
In March this year, Dr Bendale was selected as a speaker to present her research at the Annual Oxford University Personalised Medicine Symposium held at St Anne’s College.
Dr Bendale is set to graduate from the University of Oxford in 2024 and, most recently, was elected MCR President of Kellogg College, Oxford 2023-24.
