We've recently welcomed a brilliant mind to the Citruslabs team and we're thrilled to introduce you to our new Principal Investigator, Dr. Swathi Varanasi. With a passion for clinical research that's as boundless as her curiosity, Swathi brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to our team.
She's not just here to make waves in the world of wellness and clinical trials; she's here to dive right in and help you navigate the exciting journey ahead.
We sat down with Dr. Swathi to ask her some fun and thought-provoking questions so you can learn more about the person behind the professional title. Let's jump right in and get to know Dr. Swathi Varanasi.
What inspired you to pursue a career in clinical research, and how did your journey lead you to Citruslabs?
Being an integrative pharmacist has uniquely positioned me to draw on my evidence-based clinician training and expand beyond it into personalized medicine. Throughout my career spanning patient care, biotech, academia, and CPG, I have been drawn to clinical research as a means to meet the needs of the increasingly data-driven, empowered patients interested in optimizing their health and wellness.
As per Citruslabs, I had been following the company for some time now, so when I saw the opportunity to join the team, I applied–and the rest is history!
What is one thing you wish wellness brands knew about clinical trials?
One thing I wish everyone knew about clinical trials is that not only do they take a talented multidisciplinary team to execute, but they also take time. From creating robust clinical study protocol and recruiting participants to computing data analyses and finalizing the report, it often takes longer than most people realize from start to finish.
In your opinion, what's the most exciting trend or development in the field of clinical trials right now, and why?
A more recent development is the blurred line between personalized medicine and technology. From a clinical study perspective, being able to track participant-specific parameters is really exciting and can help us understand more facets as to how and why an intervention is working (or not).
If you could work on a clinical trial for any wellness product in the world, what would it be, and why?
This is a great question. As a first-generation South Asian American, we used Ayurvedic herbs and lifestyle practices in my family just as often as we used over-the-counter and prescription medications. More broadly than a single product, there is a gap in rigorous clinical trials–particularly in English–on wellness remedies that have been used for thousands of years. I hope to play a role in helping to bolster the scientific literature to provide a wider array of integrative modalities for everyone.
Outside of your professional life, what are some hobbies or interests that you're passionate about?
Outside of work, to me, there’s nothing quite like checking off another thrift store on my list, sweating it out at an afternoon hot pilates class, or adventuring somewhere new (35 countries and counting!).
Thank you for joining us in giving Dr. Swathi Varanasi a big welcome. Trust that your clinical trial will be a major success when you work with our team.