Aruna Bodapati Gambhir Lecture

Part of the MIPS Seminar Series

The Aruna Bodapati Gambhir Lecture, part of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS) Seminar Series, is named in honor of Aruna Bodapati Gambhir, MS, MBA who was a treasured key member of our Stanford Radiology/MIPS family since its establishment in 2003. She and her late husband Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, former Chair of Stanford Radiology and MIPS Division Chief, were passionate advocates for their shared vision for early cancer detection and precision medicine.

The annual Lecture features speakers engaged in impactful molecular diagnostics research at the intersection of academia and industry. Of particular focus are outstanding entrepreneurs in early-stage start-up companies and those leading innovative research programs.

About Aruna Bodapati Gambhir

Aruna Bodapati Gambhir, MS, MBA received a BA in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley, MS in Computer Science from Santa Clara University and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She went on to successfully manage several large-scale technology projects and teams. Ms. Gambhir joined Siebel Systems in 1996 where she helped build and manage a globally distributed sales consulting team from start-up phase to Fortune 500 status. In 2009, she became Chief Executive Officer of CellSight Technologies, a privately held molecular imaging company developing companion imaging diagnostics. Ms. Gambhir served on numerous boards including for CellSight Technologies, Earli and the Precision Health and Integrated Diagnostics Center (PHIND) at Stanford University, bringing with her a wealth of experience working with start-ups, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutes, nonprofit foundations and advocacy groups. She and her late husband, former Chair of Stanford Radiology, Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, were passionate advocates for their shared vision for early cancer detection and precision medicine.


Current Lecturer

April 9, 2026

Uncovering Novel Cancer Biomarkers through Phage Display: The Case of Cell-Surface Plectin

Kimberly Kelly, PhD

Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia
Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Imaging and Biology
Director of the Cancer Therapeutics Program, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center
Founder and former CEO and President, ZielBio Inc


Past Lecturers

May 2, 2024

The POC Revolution: Where We Are Now and Where We Are Going

Deepika Bodapati (inaugural speaker)

COO, Commure
Founder/COO, Athelas

June 12, 2025

Unlocking the mitochondrial axis: [18F]F-AraG as a cross-disease imaging biomarker in immuno-oncology, cardiology and neuroinflammation

Jelena Levi, PhD

Chief Scientific Officer
Cellsight Technologies