NIH Remembers NCATS Program Director
Dr. Rashmi Gopal-Srivastava (known as Dolly) passed away on Dec. 24 at age 65. She was a scientist and devoted public servant who touched many lives through science and art.
Gopal-Srivastava served as a program director in the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program Branch within the Division of Clinical Innovation at NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). In this role, she provided leadership and programmatic oversight for several nationwide CTSA program hubs.
Prior to joining the Division of Clinical Innovation, she served as program director in the Office of Rare Research (now the Division of Rare Diseases Research Innovation) where she led and coordinated the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), a multidisciplinary national program in collaboration with 10 NIH Institutes. She dedicated more than 30 years to NIH, beginning her service in 1989. Her work spanned rare diseases, biochemistry, molecular biology and basic and translational research. Her career reflected a combination of scientific rigor, collaborative leadership and deep commitment to improving lives.
Gopal-Srivastava earned her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her honors include the Virginia Commonwealth Fellowship; a research fellowship from the U.S. National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; numerous NIH individual merit awards; and recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for outstanding community service. She also contributed to the launch of the peer-reviewed journal Translational Research in Rare Diseases and served as co-editor-in-chief since its first issue.
She took great pride in passing down language, culture and tradition. She loved teaching Hindi to her students and was deeply committed to preserving and sharing Indian traditions across generations.
Gopal-Srivastava was a painter, photographer, cook, singer and speaker. Her hobbies included spending time with family, traveling, painting and sketching.
Gopal-Srivastava is survived by her husband, Dr. Sudhir Srivastava; her daughters, the Honorable Aditi Srivastav Bussells (Louis Bussells) and Dr. Jigisha Srivastav (Adam Goldammer); and two grandchildren. She will be remembered not only for what she accomplished, but for who she was: a person of intellect, creativity and joy.