Anitvir Singh Taunque is an MD candidate at Harvard Medical School pursuing the intersection of neurotechnology, regulatory policy, and community health. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from The Ohio State University graduating with Honors Research Distinction in Biomedical Science. Anitvir is a Harry S. Truman Scholar, Stamps Eminence Scholar, LeadNEXT Fellow, and recipient of Ohio State’s Outstanding Senior Award. 

Anitvir’s journey began in free clinics across Columbus, Ohio, where he helped immigrant families navigate primary care and community resources. These experiences shaped his interest in health literacy, inspiring him to build OSU Red Saree to reduce preventable cardiovascular risk through free screenings and health education materials. Seeking to understand health systems globally, he later worked at Tera Hi Tera Hospital in Punjab, India, aiding with rehabilitation for patients of emergent neurological conditions. 

As a researcher in the Samaranch Lab at Ohio State’s Department of Neurological Surgery, Anitvir led gene therapy research to expand treatment options for children with rare neurogenetic disorders. He later traveled to Stanford University to help refine a diagnostic tool for predicting severe immunologic side effects in gene therapy. His work has been published in Molecular Therapy Advances, Gene Therapy, and JAMA. Most recently, Anitvir has worked with the Neurorights Foundation to advance regulatory protections for emerging neurotechnologies, contributing to state, national, and international policy projects, including the MIND Act in the U.S. Senate, the first national legislation to protect neural data. 

As an aspiring neurosurgeon-policymaker, Anitvir aims to make breakthrough neurotechnologies globally equitable while building policies that protect patients, inform communities, and ensure innovation serves all people. 

Originally from West Chester, Ohio, and raised in a Sikh American family, Anitvir remains grounded in the principles of service, interfaith dialogue, and community. In his free time, he enjoys chess, basketball, and creating music with his younger brother.