Dr Rupa Sarker
Editor-in-Chief
Position: Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet Digital Health
Specialization: Digital Health, Medical Publishing, RNA Biology, Stem Cell Research
Affiliation: The Lancet Group, Elsevier
Biography
Rupa Sarkar is the Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Digital Health, a gold open access medical journal in the Lancet family published by Elsevier. She has been leading the journal since its founding in 2018, establishing it as a premier publication for digital health research and innovation.
Before her current role, Dr. Sarkar conducted her doctoral research at Imperial College London, where she studied RNA biology and its role in human stem cell differentiation. After earning her PhD, she did postdoctoral research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, then worked as an associate editor at Nature Protocols, a senior editor at Genome Biology, and Chief Editor at Nature Protocols.
Editorial Career
Dr. Sarker has built an impressive career in scientific publishing, progressing through several prestigious editorial positions:
- Associate Editor at Nature Protocols
- Senior Editor at Genome Biology
- Chief Editor at Nature Protocols
- Editor-in-Chief at The Lancet Digital Health (since its founding in 2018)
Academic Background
Dr. Sarker's academic foundation is in molecular and cellular biology, with particular expertise in RNA biology and stem cell research. Her doctoral work at Imperial College London focused on understanding the role of RNA biology in human stem cell differentiation, providing her with deep scientific knowledge that informs her editorial work.
Her postdoctoral research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine further expanded her expertise in molecular biology and cellular differentiation processes.
Research Expertise
Dr. Sarker's scientific background includes:
- RNA biology and its role in cellular processes
- Human stem cell differentiation mechanisms
- Molecular and cellular biology
- Scientific methodology and experimental design
Leadership in Digital Health Publishing
As Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet Digital Health, Dr. Sarker has been instrumental in shaping the field of digital health publishing. Since the journal's founding in 2018, she has established it as a leading platform for research on digital health technologies, telemedicine, health informatics, and AI applications in healthcare.
Under her leadership, the journal has become a gold open access publication, ensuring that cutting-edge digital health research is widely accessible to researchers, clinicians, and policymakers worldwide.
Editorial Philosophy
Dr. Sarker's editorial approach is informed by her strong scientific background, enabling her to critically evaluate research across the interdisciplinary field of digital health. She bridges the gap between traditional medical research and emerging digital technologies, ensuring that published work meets the highest standards of scientific rigor while addressing real-world healthcare challenges.
Impact and Contributions
Through her leadership at The Lancet Digital Health, Dr. Sarker has significantly influenced the direction of digital health research globally. Her work helps shape how new technologies are evaluated, validated, and implemented in healthcare settings, contributing to the evidence base needed for digital health transformation.