prof.dr. M (Mangala) Srinivas

Mangala Srinivas is Full Professor and Head of the Department (Chair) of Cell Biology and Immunology at Wageningen University & Research (WUR, the Netherlands). She was previously Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Cenya Imaging B.V., a biotech spin-off developing novel imaging agents. She holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and an accelerated BSc (Hons) from the National University of Singapore. Her career spans academia, industry, and policy, including a position at GE Healthcare in strategy and technology evaluation.

Mangala is one of seven Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA) to the European Commission, providing independent, high-level scientific advice to the College of Commissioners through the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM). She is the first appointee from WUR and only the third based in the Netherlands to hold this prestigious position.

Her research focuses on in vivo imaging and immunomodulation using multifunctional nanoparticles, particularly for immune cells, and for oxygen delivery. She pioneered 19F MRI for quantitative cell tracking and now leads work on translational nanoparticle platforms for advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. Her team integrates multiple imaging modalities (fluorescence, MRI, PET, ultrasound, photoacoustics) in models of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This work is supported by numerous high-profile grants including NWO VENI, multiple ERC grants, multiple ERA-NET, H2020, and the EIC Transition Open (as coordinator). Her team won the Dutch Venture Challenge in 2015, leading to the founding of a spin-off company.

In all, her group has taken a new type of imaging and immunomodulatory tool from initial development and fundamental characterisation, through to clinical testing and commercialisation. 

At WUR, she oversees a department of ~30 staff, reaching over 2000 students annually, and contributes to institutional policy on sustainability and inclusion. She is also a member of the Wageningen Young Academy.

Beyond research, Mangala is an influential voice in European science policy and academic reform. As former Chair of the Young Academy of Europe, she led initiatives on Open Science, researcher assessment, and diversity. She has spoken at UNESCO, EuroScience Open Forum, and ISC meetings, and contributed to Nature and EU projects like CALIPER on gender equity. She serves on scientific advisory boards, including Open Research Europe, and reviews grants for funding bodies across Europe.

Above all, Mangala is a proud and busy mother of three children, who keep her grounded, inspired, and entertained.