Ahmedabad researcher earns global recognition for Bridging Rocket Science and Cardiology

In a proud moment for Gujarat and India, Dhruv Panchal, a young doctoral researcher and Founder & CEO of Vyadh Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., has received international recognition for his groundbreaking role in a pioneering Indo-global research study that connects rocket propulsion science with cardiovascular medicine.

The award-winning study conducted under the leadership of Professor Dr. V. R. Sanal Kumar, Head of Research and Innovation at Amity Institute of Aerospace Engineering, received the prestigious Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award 2025 from the American Heart Association (AHA).

The honor was presented during the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS2025) Scientific Sessions held in Baltimore, USA, from July 23 to 26. The award recognized the highest-ranked abstract submitted from India.

Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Dhruv Panchal played a vital role in the research alongside Dr. Sanal Kumar and Dr. Pradeep Kumar Radhakrishnan, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.

Together, the team merged expertise in aerospace fluid dynamics and medical science to investigate life-saving interdisciplinary applications.
Rocket Science Meets Cardiology.

The awarded research paper, titled “Microbubble-Induced Shock Waves in Blood: Investigating Multiphase Sanal Flow Choking During Decompression”, explores how Sanal Flow Choking—a compressible fluid dynamics phenomenon typically observed in rocket propulsion systems—can be applied to cardiovascular scenarios.

The study reveals that during rapid decompression, a sudden drop in pressure can cause microbubbles to form in the bloodstream, which may in turn generate shock waves capable of triggering cardiac events, even in the absence of arterial blockages. 

This novel insight holds immense potential for advancing safety protocols in aviation, space missions, deep-sea diving, and cardiac surgery.

A Global Collaborative Effort

The international research team comprised contributors from Amity University, Vyadh Aerospace (Ahmedabad), Biomexia (Visakhapatnam), as well as global partners from the University of Queensland (Australia) and the University of Minnesota (USA).

Indian co-authors included Raunak Sharma, Shivansh Rana, Yaman Vohra, Dekkala Vinay, Yash Raj, and Prof. Dr. Sanjay Singh, Director of Aerospace Engineering at Amity University.

The project was carried out under the DST–Amity–TEC initiative, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

The team expressed gratitude to Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President of the Amity Science, Technology & Innovation Foundation, for his invaluable mentorship and guidance.

Scientific Leadership from India

Dr. Sanal Kumar, a former ISRO rocket scientist, had earlier received international acclaim from South Korea for identifying the root cause of pressure surges in rocket engines.

His continued research now proves how principles of aerospace propulsion can be translated to better understand complex medical phenomena such as cardiac risk factors.

Reflecting on the achievement, Dhruv Panchal stated: “As a researcher and entrepreneur from Gujarat, being part of this breakthrough is deeply humbling. It shows the power of combining Indian science with global collaboration to benefit humanity.”

Dr. Sanal Kumar added, “This recognition is not just for one paper or one team—it’s a signal that India is emerging as a leader in high-impact, interdisciplinary science.”