Dr Kavindhran Velen
subtitle: Chief Scientific Officer
Kavindhran (Kavi) is a microbiologist and epidemiologist with over 18 years of experience in public and global health. His work has focused on tuberculosis, lung health, and HIV, with a strong emphasis on translating evidence into policy and practice.
Prior to joining The Union, he was a Senior Scientist at FIND, leading evaluations of new diagnostics and tools, advancing their optimal use through operational research. He has secured and managed many high-impact grants, built strong partnerships with Ministries of Health, donors, and civil society, and supervised global, multidisciplinary teams.
Dr Ajay Kumar
subtitle: Director, Department of Research
Dr Ajay Kumar is a seasoned Public Health Practitioner with over 15 years of experience in low- and middle-income settings. He has worked for WHO-India as a consultant for providing technical assistance to the Government of India’s National Tuberculosis Programme, particularly in leading TB-HIV co-ordination activities. He is an author/co-author of over 170 publications, with many contributing to a change in policy/practice and has facilitated over 75 national and international courses.