Dr. Kuntal Shah, M.V.Sc. is a veterinary scientist with specialized expertise in preclinical and translational research, medical device evaluation, minimally invasive surgery and robotic-assisted surgical training. He is currently serving as Veterinary Scientist – Preclinical Medical-Device Evaluation at Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital (MPUH), Nadiad, India (November 2024–Present), where he assists in planning, performing, monitoring and documenting in vivo preclinical studies that assess the safety and efficacy of medical devices. Additionally, he holds the position of Member Secretary – Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) at MPUH (July 2026–Present), coordinating ethics committee meetings, managing communication with regulatory bodies and ensuring adherence to institutional protocols and animal welfare standards.

Previously, he served as Veterinary Officer at Shree Idar Panjrapole Sanstha (July 2023–October 2024), providing comprehensive veterinary clinical services including animal evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and surgical procedures. He also maintained a Freelance Veterinary Practice in mixed-animal clinical care (January 2022–June 2023) and served as Senior Executive Veterinary Officer at GVK EMRI (July 2021–December 2021), performing clinical work and field responsibilities in a professional veterinary setting.

Research & Publications

Dr. Shah has developed a research profile focused on preclinical and translational research, animal modeling, veterinary surgery and medical device assessment. His research contributions include active involvement in studies designed to test the safety and efficacy of medical devices using appropriate animal models, procedures in animal anesthesia and perioperative care, vascular device placement and translational processes bridging laboratory findings with clinical applications.

His publication record comprises 3 publications across international, national and state-level journals. His published research addresses epidemiology and haematological/biochemical changes associated with mange infestation in goats, as well as evaluation of herbal extracts in mange management. His international publication appeared in the International Journal of Science and Research, his national publication in the Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Biotechnology, and his state-level publication in Gujarati language veterinary literature.

Surgical Training & Procedural Experience

Dr. Shah possesses significant hands-on experience in surgical training and minimally invasive procedures. He has actively participated in Laparoscopic Urology Training Programmes (LUTP) utilizing porcine models, managing complete workflows from animal husbandry to anesthesia, post-operative management and training facility coordination. His experience in Robotic Urology Training Programmes (RUTP) includes dry laboratory sessions and robotic pyeloplasty training using chicken models.

He has provided practical assistance in training activities for more than 100 M.Ch. and D.N.B. trainees in national and international surgical training programs. His procedural experience in training and experimental settings encompasses nephrectomy, hysterectomy, ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy and ovum pick-up procedures in porcine models, as well as rabbit iliac artery drug-eluting stent placement. He has gained hands-on exposure with Intuitive da Vinci Si, X and Xi robotic surgical systems across 18 cases/procedures.

Technical & Analytical Competencies

Dr. Shah possesses a diverse skill set spanning multiple domains. His pre-clinical research competencies include management of in vivo studies, animal model management, peri-operative monitoring, sample collection, tissue harvesting, study documentation and wet-lab and dry-lab activities. His veterinary practice expertise encompasses clinical evaluation, animal health management, anesthesia management, endotracheal intubation and administration of medications through intravenous, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes.

In ethics and governance, he coordinates Institutional Animal Ethics Committee meetings, maintains detailed record-keeping of meeting minutes, manages liaison with regulatory authorities and documents standard operating procedures and protocols. His data and analytical skills include proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SQL/MySQL, Python, R programming and Tableau for data visualization and analysis workflows.

Education & Professional Development

Dr. Shah holds a Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) from Kamdhenu University, Gujarat, India (Completed 2021), with postgraduate training in veterinary clinical medicine, ethics and jurisprudence, and veterinary surgery and radiology. He earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) from Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, India (Completed 2019), completing professional veterinary education covering animal health, clinical practice, surgery and animal management.

His professional certifications include Data Analysis (IIT Kanpur), Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-Up Technology (MPUH/JPAC, April 2025), Laboratory Animals in Biomedical Research (August 2024), and Recent Advances in Animal Experimentation: Ethics, Animal Models, Alternatives, and New Technologies (2025). He has also completed training in Development of Entrepreneurship in Equine Husbandry at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (February 2021) and holds a PTE Academic score of 72/90.

Research Integrity & Regulatory Contributions

Dr. Shah demonstrates strong commitment to research integrity, animal welfare and regulatory compliance. He ensures proper definition of responsibilities within studies by clearly identifying work performed independently versus with assistance and observation. He maintains compliance of all animal procedures and research activities with established protocols, institutionally defined standard operating procedures and animal welfare requirements. He maintains detailed study records prepared for verification and is able to submit certificates, published papers and project reports upon request.

Eligibility for Young Scientist Award

Dr. Shah's profile demonstrates substantial contributions across multiple dimensions of scientific endeavor. His expertise in preclinical research and medical device evaluation, hands-on experience with advanced surgical technologies, extensive involvement in surgical training of over 100 postgraduate trainees, research publications in peer-reviewed journals, and commitment to research ethics and animal welfare collectively establish a strong foundation for recognition as a young scientist.

Based on his demonstrated achievements, technical competencies and research contributions, Dr. Kuntal Shah is eligible for consideration for the Young Scientist Award in Scientific Laurels, particularly in recognition of his contributions to preclinical research, translational medicine, minimally invasive surgical innovation and biomedical research governance.