Genetidoc Genetic Clinic and DNA Testing Lab is delighted to welcome Dr. Robert Patrick Selvam, MBBS, MD Pathology, DM Medical Genetics — Clinical Geneticist trained at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal — to its panel of specialists.
Dr. Robert Patrick Selvam brings to Genetidoc a clinical background that is genuinely unlike anyone else in this series — a trained pathologist who has crossed into clinical genetics, carrying with him a laboratory depth and diagnostic precision that most geneticists simply do not have. His joining strengthens Genetidoc’s position as India’s largest network of online genetics specialists with a profile that covers hereditary blood disorders, pharmacogenomics, and complex genomic diagnostics in equal measure.
The Pathologist Who Became a Geneticist — and Why It Matters
Dr. Selvam’s career has followed an unusual and valuable trajectory. He completed both his MBBS and his MD in Pathology at St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore — one of India’s most respected medical institutions — before going on to complete his DM in Medical Genetics at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, under the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
This sequence — pathology first, genetics second — is rare. And it produces a kind of clinician that genetics departments find invaluable: someone who understands the laboratory not as a black box that produces reports, but as a system with known methods, known limitations, and known sources of error.
His pathology years were substantive. He contributed to molecular pathology integration, participated in tumor boards and diagnostic decision-making, assisted in NABH/NABL laboratory quality compliance, and developed expertise across histopathology, hematopathology, immunohistochemistry, and cytopathology. When he now reads a genetic report, he reads it through a lens that most clinical geneticists never develop — the lens of someone who has worked in the laboratory that produces such reports.
Presented at ESHG 2025 — Milan, Italy
Among Dr. Selvam’s recent academic contributions, one stands out: he presented original research at the European Society of Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2025) in Milan, Italy — one of the most prestigious gatherings in global human genetics.
His paper described a biallelic variant in CNTROB associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder — a specific, detailed, gene-level finding that reflects genuine research capacity, not conference attendance. This is the work of someone actively advancing the knowledge base of clinical genetics, not just practising within it.
He has also presented at the IAMG Annual Conference (2024) in Ahmedabad, on a distinct neurodevelopmental finding in TRAPPC6B — demonstrating consistent research output across consecutive years and a clear focus on the genetics of neurodevelopmental conditions.
A Special Interest in Pharmacogenomics
Dr. Selvam lists pharmacogenomics as one of his primary clinical passions — and it is an area that deserves particular attention as India’s healthcare system matures.
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual’s genetic makeup affects their response to medications — which drugs will work, which will not, and which carry a risk of serious adverse reactions based on genetic variants in drug-metabolising enzymes and drug targets. It is a field that has moved from specialist research into mainstream clinical practice in oncology, psychiatry, cardiology, and pain management — and one where Indian patients have historically had little access to specialist guidance.
Dr. Selvam’s interest in this area makes him a valuable resource for patients who have experienced unexpected drug reactions, for oncology teams considering chemotherapy regimens, and for psychiatrists seeking to personalise medication choices for patients who have not responded to standard treatment.
Areas of Specialisation
Hereditary Anemias and Blood Disorders His DM dissertation focused on understanding hereditary anemias through systematic phenotyping and genomic analyses — and his clinical experience in Elthagiri, Tamil Nadu included hands-on management of sickle cell disease and thalassemia in consanguineous communities where these conditions are prevalent. This is one of his deepest areas of expertise.
Pharmacogenomics Dr. Selvam brings both clinical interest and academic grounding in pharmacogenomics — an area of growing importance for personalising drug treatment across specialties.
Neurodevelopmental Genetics His research presentations at ESHG 2025 and IAMG 2024 both focused on neurodevelopmental disorders with a genetic basis — reflecting clinical depth in an area where families often wait years for an answer.
Prenatal Diagnostics His training at Manipal covered the full range of prenatal diagnostic procedures — NIPT, fetal anomaly scanning, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, cordocentesis — alongside the genetic counselling that must accompany them.
Comprehensive Genomic Diagnostics From karyotyping and QF-PCR to chromosomal microarray, whole exome sequencing, gene panel testing, Sanger sequencing, and biochemical IEM testing — Dr. Selvam’s technical repertoire spans the complete toolkit of modern genomic diagnostics.
Familial Cancer and Oncogenetics His pathology background — including tumor board participation and molecular pathology integration — gives his oncogenetics work an additional layer of clinical grounding.
Rooted in Karnataka, Available Nationwide
Based in Bangalore, Dr. Selvam brings Karnataka’s genetics community closer to Genetidoc’s platform — and through online consultation, extends his reach to families across India who need a geneticist with his particular combination of laboratory depth, research credibility, and clinical warmth.
His personal philosophy — to always put the patient first and advocate on their behalf — is the thread that runs through every stage of a career that has moved from community clinics in rural Tamil Nadu to international conference stages in Europe.
About Genetidoc Genetic Clinic and DNA Testing Lab
Genetidoc is India’s largest network of online genetics specialists, founded by Dr. Roshan Daniel — Clinical Geneticist and Head of the Medical Genetics Department at KIMSHealth, Trivandrum. The platform connects patients and families across India with qualified genetics doctors for consultations, counselling, and DNA testing guidance — making expert genetic care accessible, affordable, and personal.
To book a consultation with Dr. Robert Patrick Selvam or any Genetidoc specialist, reach us on WhatsApp or visit genetidoc.com.
