She is director of the World Health Organization collaborating centre for reference and research on influenza.

[2][1] Subbarao was convinced to join the influenza program at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) when all of the positions in the respiratory syncytial virus program, which she wanted to join, were filled.

[1] She is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[3] In 2016, she joined World Health Organization collaborating centre for reference and research on influenza.

[1] Subbarao became an elected fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2021.