2026 Career Encouragement Award Winner
Nishant Dwivedi is a physician-scientist and industry medical leader whose career bridges academic discovery, translational medicine, and clinical trials. A proud alumnus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Nishant earned his PhD at UTHSC (2011), where he developed a strong foundation in immunology, clinical investigation, and patient-centered research that has continued to shape his professional trajectory.
Following his doctoral training, Nishant completed postdoctoral research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where his work focused on the molecular mechanisms of autoimmunity and inflammation. Nishant has authored or co-authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals. Transitioning from academia to industry, Nishant has built a career at the intersection of science, medicine, and drug development. He has held scientific and medical leadership roles at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, EMD Serono, and CareDx, contributing to translational research, biomarker development, and clinical strategy across multiple therapeutic areas. In these roles, he has been recognized for his ability to integrate rigorous scientific evidence with practical clinical and regulatory considerations. Nishant currently serves as Medical Director, Cell Transplant and Therapy, CareDx, where he provides medical oversight and strategic leadership for clinical research programs.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Nishant remains deeply committed to education, mentorship, and workforce development. He further supports these efforts through his leadership and involvement with Lumi Radix, an organization dedicated to structured, project-based learning.
He is actively engaged with UTHSC in developing mentorship opportunities for high school and undergraduate students. This collaboration aims to create pathways for students to engage with advanced scientific topics and gain exposure to research and healthcare careers beyond their local environments. These efforts directly reinforce UTHSC’s mission to transform lives through collaborative and inclusive education, research, clinical care, and public service.
Through sustained mentorship and educational engagement, Nishant reflects a lasting commitment to the institution that shaped his career and to advancing its educational mission. Nishant’s professional journey exemplifies the impact of a UTHSC education and highlights how alumni can translate scientific training into leadership that advances biomedical innovation, public service, and patient care.