Sneha Goenka

Sneha Goenka, the pioneer behind the world’s fastest DNA test, delivering genetic diagnoses in under 8 hours and already saving lives.

Born in Mumbai, she left home at 15, earned a dual degree at IIT Bombay (where she helped build the university’s first student satellite, later launched by ISRO (India’s space agency), and went on to complete a PhD at Stanford.

At Stanford University School of Medicine, she co-led the team that developed ultra-rapid genome sequencing turning weeks of anxious waiting into same-day answers.

▪️ Take the case of 13-year-old Matthew who was rushed to Stanford Children’s Hospital with a failing heart, doctors had just hours to determine whether it was a viral infection or a genetic mutation that meant he needed a transplant.
▪️ His blood was drawn on Thursday; the transplant committee met Friday.
▪️ By morning, Goenka’s test revealed a genetic mutation. Matthew was added to the transplant list the next day, and three weeks later, he received a new heart. 💙

Her breakthrough has earned a Guinness World Record, Forbes 30 Under 30, and this month, she was named MIT Technology Review’s Innovator of the Year. Now, as head of her Princeton University lab, she’s building even faster, smarter tools for doctors.

ps. Fun fact: she also holds a Master’s in Bharatanatyam, a traditional Indian dance form. 

Last updated: Septemeber 2025