Meet our core team
DKMS Foundation India is a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. Our aim is to improve the situation of patients suffering from blood cancer and other blood disorders in India and throughout the world, by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors.
Meet our core team
Patrick Paul, Chairman, DKMS in India
Patrick Paul leads the DKMS operations in India. In this role, Patrick oversees the foundation's work in India, with the objective of improving the conditions of patients and families affected by blood cancer and blood disorders. He spearheads these initiatives by collaborating closely with a range of healthcare providers, local and global non-profits, community groups, researchers, and the private sector. Patrick contributes invaluable experience gained from his numerous leadership positions inside DKMS and has strong relationships with partners across the development ecosystem.
Patrick has been associated with the foundation since 2010. Prior to his role as Chairman of DKMS in India, he led the India team as CEO of DKMS-BMST. Since 2024, he has been overseeing the work of DKMS Group in Asia.
Patrick holds a graduate degree in Macroeconomics from Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz.
Dr Nitin Agarwal – Head – Donor Request Management
As the Head of Donor Request Management at DKMS Foundation India, Dr. Nitin Agarwal spearheads critical initiatives aimed at providing patients battling blood cancers and other blood disorders a second chance at life.
Dr. Agarwal's extensive expertise, honed over 15 years in Transfusion Medicine, is central to his role. He specializes in Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, with a profound focus on the intricacies of stem cell transplantation. His department is responsible for managing the entire donor request lifecycle, ensuring efficiency, precision, and compassionate support for potential donors and patients through transplant centers.
Dr Agarwal has an MBBS from LLRM Medical College in 2005 and an MD in Transfusion Medicine from SGPGIMS in 2010.
Dr Minerva Mary – Head – Marketing and Communications
As the Head of Marketing & Communications at DKMS in India, Dr. Minerva drives strategic awareness & education initiatives that empower patients battling blood cancers and other blood disorders with a second chance at life.
Dr. Minerva brings over 18 years of extensive expertise, making her a pivotal force in this role. She is deeply passionate about innovation, impactful storytelling, and driving outcomes, particularly in complex and challenging markets.
Under her leadership, the Marketing & Communications department is responsible for managing the full spectrum of Information, Education & Communication initiatives. This includes overseeing online donor registration platforms, ensuring optimization, maintaining high-quality standards, and delivering compassionate, user-centric support to both potential donors and patients.
Yatish C – Head – Donor Recruitment
As the Manager – Operations and Interim Head of Donor Recruitment at DKMS Foundation, India, Yathish C leads key initiatives to strengthen donor recruitment and ensure smooth operations across programs that help give patients a second chance at life.
Yathish focuses on operations management, driving process improvements, efficiency, and the smooth execution of donor recruitment activities. He also oversees administrative and IT operations, ensuring strong system support and team coordination. In his interim leadership role, he guides recruitment strategies, collaborates with partners, and supports the growth of the donor registry.
Yathish holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and is committed to building effective and scalable systems that support DKMS India’s mission.
Nagalakshmi R – Head – Data Management
Nagalakshmi leads the Data Management Operations at DKMS India, playing a key role in ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of donor data.
She has been associated with the DKMS Foundation since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in Electronics and Communication from Visvesvaraya Technological University and has previously worked at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys, gaining experience in technology-driven operations.
In her current role, Nagalakshmi helps strengthen DKMS India’s mission by enabling reliable data management frameworks that support donor registration and operational reporting across the organization.