Renuka Misra, PhD

Dr. Renuka Misra, known as “Renu” to her friends, was first introduced to The Children’s Inn in the early 1990s by Gil Brown, the executive director at the time. He asked Dr. Misra, originally from India, to help with programming for the international families who stayed at The Inn. From her first “Indian Night” for Inn families to her most recent fundraising drive to help meet the Merck Matching Gift Challenge, Dr. Misra has shared her special love for The Inn with all those who know her.

“The Children’s Inn is a beautiful and unique concept,” says Dr. Misra. “All the affection, hugs and support that the children receive at The Inn are just as important as the medicine they receive.”

In addition to her annual support, Dr. Misra is also a member of The Innkeeper’s Society, a group of donors who have made gift commitments to The Inn through their estate plans. “I worked with my financial advisor and this is a meaningful way for me to help ensure that The Inn will always be there for the children who need it,” she says.

A native of Lucknow, India, Dr. Misra came to the United States as a young scientist on a Fulbright Scholarship. Affiliated with the NIH for more than two decades, Dr. Misra has held various positions at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), as well as the NCI-FCRF. She is nationally and internationally recognized for her research and drug development using natural medicinal plants, identifying biologically active molecules for the treatment of cancer, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Misra has received numerous honors and awards for her research, as well as for her extensive volunteer work in the community.

The Inn is deeply grateful to Dr. Misra for her unwavering support of the children and families who depend on The Inn.