Dr. Daya Ram Pokharel is a senior Medical Biochemist who currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry at Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS) in Pokhara, Nepal. His academic excellence is reflected in his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University, India, where his doctoral research focused on filarial proteases and their vaccine potential against lymphatic filariasis. His expertise was further refined through specialized training and education at University of Lausanne, Switzerland and Institut Pasteur, France.

Throughout his distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Dr. Pokharel has held several key academic and administrative positions, notably serving as the Associate Director of Academics (Basic Sciences) at MCOMS from 2020 to 2022. His research interests are diverse and impactful, focusing on the identification and validation of biomarkers for cardiometabolic diseases and cancer, as well as molecular parasitology. He has successfully secured multiple research grants, including funding from NAST and UGC Nepal, to investigate essential trace elements in glucometabolic disorders and evaluate plasma microRNAs as early predictive biomarkers for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dr. Pokharel’s scientific contributions are substantial, with over 25 peer-reviewed publications in reputed international journals. His work has earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including the Nepal Vidya Bhusan Award “A” from the President of Nepal, and fellowships from organizations such as WHO/TDR, Sanofi-Pasteur, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has also received international travel grants from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) for presenting his research at annual meetings.

As a dedicated educator, Dr. Pokharel has supervised Ph.D., MD/MSc, MBBS and BScMLT students, contributing significantly to developing the next generation of biochemistry researchers in Nepal. His expertise is recognized internationally through his memberships in prestigious professional bodies, including the Biochemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and the American Society for Microbiology, USA. He serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed scientific journals and actively participates in curriculum development for various medical and health science programs across Nepal’s universities.