Dr. Alka Kanaya is a physician-scientist whose research has transformed understanding of cardiovascular and metabolic health among South Asian Americans. She leads the National Institutes of Health-funded MASALA (Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America) study, the first major longitudinal cohort study of its kind. Her work has generated critical evidence on diabetes, obesity, and heart disease in an understudied population, informing clinical guidance and helping make American healthcare more responsive to the unique health risks of South Asian communities.
