Nilendra Krishna Nair’s aspiration to combat pollution fueled his academic accomplishments. The son of former Assistant Commissioner of Police Itendra Nair, he left Fiji in 2009 with a Public Service Commission scholarship to study in Canada. “Growing up in Nasova, the extent of pollution along the seaside motivated me to pursue this career,” Mr. Nair stated.
He proudly became the first Fijian to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Planetary Health, Climate Change, and Nutritional Epidemiology from Harvard University. Mr. Nair’s journey over the past thirteen years has not been without challenges, yet his determination allowed him to achieve a double degree from Harvard, initially obtaining a Master’s in Epidemiology.
At 31 years old, Mr. Nair is currently a clinical genetic scientist at Mount Sinai Health System, the largest hospital network in New York City. He expresses concern over humanity’s detrimental treatment of the environment, which has driven him to become a change agent. “Living in an urban community challenged me from a young age to instigate change within my family and then my community,” he explained.
Mr. Nair grew up in the Nasova Police Barracks, near the sea wall, where he witnessed increasing pollution caused by local communities. This environment ignited his curiosity about environmental issues and the paths he could take to address them. He attended Nehru Primary School and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in Suva before heading to Canada on a PSC scholarship, before completing his secondary education.
After two years in Canada, he transitioned to the United States to continue his studies. Remarkably, he finished his PhD program in just four years, a timeline typically extending to six years. “Being surrounded by exceptional talent from across the country was daunting, but it taught me to maintain high standards,” he noted. “I often pushed myself to excel, particularly with the expectations placed upon me.”
Despite moments of doubt about his ambitions, the sacrifices made by his parents for his education served as a crucial motivator. Starting his journey in Labasa, Mr. Nair’s expertise in genetics and microbiome research now aims to address the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the South Pacific.
“I focus on uncovering the genetic underpinnings of diseases impacting the diverse Fijian population, an area that has often been overlooked,” he explained. His transition from biological to clinical research aims to fill gaps concerning diabetes and related NCDs. As part of his PhD thesis, he collaborates with the government of Kiribati to analyze factors influencing nutritional shifts in the region.
Currently, on vacation in Suva, he plans to engage with the Fijian population. “I intend to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Health and Fiji National University, and the feedback on my NCD research has been overwhelmingly supportive,” he stated.
Mr. Nair’s research seeks to delve deeper into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of NCD development, identifying genetic contributors to disease while emphasizing the influence of environmental factors. “My goal is to focus on disease prevention for future generations and identify the most effective treatments,” he concluded.
He will continue researching the intersection of climate change, planetary health, and human health at Harvard as the first Fijian postdoctoral research fellow and instructor.