Dr RS Jayasree's life story reflects the power of resilience, determination, and the belief that it is never too late to achieve excellence.
Published Sep 29, 2025 | 10:48 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2025 | 11:56 AM
Synopsis: Dr RS Jayasree, a senior scientist at Sree Chitra Institute, became the first Malayali to win the Women in Medicine Award. Starting her career at 45, she overcame challenges to lead groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research, showcasing resilience and late-blooming success.
The journey of Dr RS Jayasree stands as an inspiring testament to perseverance and late-blooming success. A senior scientist in the biophotonics division at the Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, she recently became the first Malayali to be honoured with the Women in Medicine Award by the National Academy of Medical Sciences under the Union Health Ministry.
What makes her story remarkable is that she entered her professional career only at the age of 45, long after most peers had established themselves.
Born in Ernakulam’s North Paravur, Jayasree completed her physics degree from Maliankara SNM College and pursued postgraduate studies at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
She initially began her doctoral research there, but after marriage and relocation to her husband’s hometown in Vanchiyoor, she shifted to Kerala University to continue her PhD.
Managing family responsibilities and raising three children left her with little time for preparation, yet she persevered through late-night study sessions and successfully completed her doctorate in physics.
Her career took flight when she was selected as a scientist in the radiology department at Sree Chitra in 2006, shortly after being awarded the Women in Science Fellowship the previous year.
In 2010, she expanded her horizons with a postdoctoral fellowship at Monash University, Australia, and upon returning, she went on to establish the institute’s Biophotonics Department. Over the years, her work and commitment have earned national recognition, including an invitation to Rashtrapati Bhavan during the 75th Republic Day celebrations.
Today, at 62, Dr Jayasree continues to lead cutting-edge research, focusing on the development of a device capable of detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s through blood biomarkers.
Her life story reflects the power of resilience, determination, and the belief that it is never too late to achieve excellence.
