Profile with Nermeen Varawalla
Dr Nermeen Varawalla (Rhodes Visiting Fellow & Somerville 1988) is a charismatic business leader and a recognised expert in the development of new medicines and healthcare solutions. Originally from India, Dr Varawalla has a background in clinical medicine and has trained at the Universities of Oxford and Mumbai. She holds a DPhil in Clinical Medicine from the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and an MBA from INSEAD. Nermeen has founded, built and exited from multi-national businesses in entrepreneurial and corporate settings and presently serves as Chief Medical Officer at Relief Therapeutics.
Rhodes Project: Where do you call home?
Nermeen Varawalla: Home for me is London. However, I’ve travelled extensively; hence consider home to be where my toothbrush is! I always have a toothbrush at my home in Mumbai as well as London.
Rhodes Project: When you were a child, what did you aspire to be later in life?
Nermeen Varawalla: I wanted to be someone who could make a difference. Given the context and time when I grew up, being an obstetrician and gynaecologist to me seemed to be the best way to fulfil that goal.
Rhodes Project: Can you tell me a little about your role at Relief Therapeutics?
Nermeen Varawalla: At Relief Therapeutics I lead the development of new medicines for severe COVID-19 induced lung disease as well as for rare genetic metabolic, lung and skin diseases. As our research project portfolio comprises of potential therapies for relatively rare conditions for which there no approved satisfactory treatments, my work is challenging but fulfilling. More so as I am able to apply my scientific education, clinical experience and commercial nous to address unmet patient needs.
Rhodes Project: In the course of your business career you have set up new ventures, what was establishing your own business like?
Nermeen Varawalla: Having set up three businesses, I found the process to be all consuming yet very exciting and invigorating. The personal and professional challenges it has placed on me have been tremendous learning experiences.
Rhodes Project: You’ve worked in academia, at large multi-national organisations and as an entrepreneur. Which of your career achievements has been most rewarding?
Nermeen Varawalla: My doctoral research conducted whilst at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine has formed the basis of a longstanding effective disease control programme for thalassaemia will remain a career highlight. Since then, I have led clinical trial programmes for a number of new treatments, notably for advanced cancer and vascular diseases. In the process I have had the huge satisfaction of contributing to the personal and professional development of a number of colleagues across the world.
Rhodes Project: What is the most challenging part?
Nermeen Varawalla: Delivering cost effective healthcare is what the whole world is clamoring for. What I am most interested in is finding a way to deliver this, whilst making it a viable business model. It has to be a profitable business and yet deliver what our global healthcare environment needs. I have worked in academia, within the NHS (National Health Service), for large multi-national organisations and for start-ups. In each of these settings, the challenge for me has been understanding my goals, capabilities, and limitations, and working out how I could make an impact within the given framework.
Rhodes Project: Is there one framework you prefer working in?
Nermeen Varawalla: One where I am in control! And that is an entrepreneurial one. However, the advantage of a corporate framework is that the potential to make an impact can be greater. In an entrepreneurial setting, so much energy, time, and resources are spent on establishing the business platform.
Rhodes Project: What advice would you give to a young woman in your field?
Nermeen Varawalla: Be excited about the prospect of having many jobs and multiple careers throughout your working life. Embrace, and welcome the prospect of continual change. Develop the skills required to excel in such a world - namely, constant learning, flexibility, adaptability, and comfort with the multicultural global working environment.
Rhodes Project: What is your favorite memory of Oxford?
Nermeen Varawalla: I have many wonderful memories. One special one is dashing up and down the Marston Ferry Road with spring daffodils on either side of the road. In my mind this remains a symbol for my privileged intellectual life straddling a cutting edge biomedical research laboratory, the then new Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and the multi disciplinary academic community of Somerville College.
Rhodes Project:Could you describe the last holiday you went on?
Nermeen Varawalla: I just returned from a most wonderful week on the Amalfi Coast in Italy–a perfect mix of stunning locations, delicious food, and fascinating ancient sites. A memorable cocktail of nature, culture, and hedonism!
Rhodes Project: What do you do to relax?
Nermeen Varawalla: I greatly enjoy tennis and the arts, and hence strive hard to ensure that I am able to fit these in to my life. I am privileged to serve as President of the UK INSEAD Alumni Association as well as President of the Somerville Association. Although both volunteer roles consume a lot of bandwidth they give me much fulfilment and fun.
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