With over 22 years of extensive experience in health research and public health, Dr. Shikha is dedicated to delivering patient-centric healthcare solutions aimed at disease prevention, interception and treatment. She holds a post-doctorate in Biomedical Research from the USA, a PhD in Microbiology, and a PGDM in Biotechnology Business Management from India. She is founder of Biozazen that makes bioenzymes as environment friendly sustainable solutions for varied businesses. Inspired living with conscious pursuit and passion to change lives for the less privileged makes her laser focused on empowering women, enhancing public health, supporting rural livelihoods, promoting environmental sustainability and “zero cost” organic farming, conducting health camps and advancing education at Centre for Social Integration and Borderless World & Abhya Life Foundation. She is at the forefront of validating innovative diagnostic technologies and developing host biomarker-based Tuberculosis diagnostics as Technical Consultant with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). At Entrepreneur Café, she ignites global startup success, driving bold business transformations and powerfully bridging entrepreneurs with the investors who bring their visions to life. Partnering with Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer, IIT Delhi, Dr. Shikha is spearheading Niti Aayog’s prestigious study on “Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in State Public Universities,” driving transformative impact in India’s higher education landscape. In collaboration with the New Delhi Tuberculosis (TB) Centre, she is championing the visionary implementation of Quality Management Systems (QMS) across public and private TB Diagnostic Centres, setting new benchmarks in healthcare excellence and diagnostic precision. At GK Consulting through strategic partnerships, she helps businesses leverage carbon credits and ESG initiatives to enhance sustainability, reduce emissions, and unlock new growth opportunities. She is Chief Business Strategist and Executive Director at Abhay Health and drives multifaceted healthcare business conglomerate with diverse innovative products and technology enabled services. From 2017 to 2024, Dr. Shikha was Director Programs at SHARE INDIA, where she provided crucial technical assistance to the National AIDS and STD Control Program (NACP) and the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Phase III vaccine trials for TB with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). In her role as Senior Advisor for Program and Partnerships at USEA (2023-2024), Dr. Shikha acted as a business mentor and strategy advisor, focusing on social and development sector projects. In 2022, Dr. Shikha played a pivotal role as Director TB at Empower School of Health, where she spearheaded digital initiatives focused on capacity building for health cadres. She bridged the gap between academia and public health as Executive Director, Partasia Biopharm (2016-2021) to foster partnerships that advanced the development of critical health interventions. As a National Consultant for laboratories and Monitoring & Evaluation with NTEP (2012-2016), Dr. Shikha successfully scaled and monitored the impact of active interventions to augment India’s fight against TB. She was part of the teams engaged in the discovery of novel malaria vaccine candidates, preclinical and Phase I clinical trials as Manager-Malaria Vaccines (2008-2012) and Research Scientist (2004-2008) at ICGEB, New Delhi.
Dr. Shikha travels extensively within India, even to the remotest districts and villages, touches live and makes meaningful societal impact. She has presented research policy and public health work at multiple international forums in the USA, Europe, Asia and Africa. Her career multiplier path is embellished with fostering economic independence and enhancing community resilience for Self Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organizations through skill development and livelihood generation under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI).
Dr. Shikha is an investor, reviewer and subject matter expert for startups across various sectors, including health and wellness, Med-Tech, agriculture, sustainability, climate, and social impact at Entrepreneurs Café-Global, FITT-IIT Delhi, SIIC IIT-Kanpur, NIT Hamirpur, IIHS-Bangalore, KIIT TBI-Bhubaneswar, MIET Group in Ghaziabad and Meerut, HTIC IIT-Madras, India Accelerator-Gurugram, 15Wins Academy-Africa, iACCEL Gulf-Dubai and Because International-USA.
Dr. Shikha works effectively with governments, academia, the development sector, non-profits, and the private sector to drive meaningful initiatives with tangible outcomes. She is trained in Corporate Social Responsibility, Public Health Communication Campaigns and the Medico Legal aspects in healthcare to address complex health challenges while fostering sustainable development and social impact. Dr. Shikha is reviewer of many Government and private funds notably being SPARSH, SIIP, BIG-BIRAC, NIDHI-DST, Bayer, Boeing, HULT Prize etc. Dr. Shikha is Board Member at All India Women Only Start-a-thon” (AIWOS); General Body Member-Jijiwisha Society; faculty at Jindal School of Banking and Finance’s “Startup Incubation and Innovation”; Department of Science and Technology’s “Women Entrepreneurship Development Program”; University of Washington, USA and I-TECH India’s International courses on “Leadership & Management in Health” and “Project Management”. Her role in these programs underscores her commitment to empowering future leaders and enhancing skills in health and entrepreneurship.
