Dr. Radha Rangarajan takes charge as director of CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow

Dr Rangarajan has been actively involved in translational research and product development in the public health arena for the last two decades

0
3777
New Delhi: Dr. Radha Rangarajan took over as the director of CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow on September 05, 2022.
Dr Rangarajan has been actively involved in translational research and product development in the public health arena for the last two decades. Working closely at the interface between academia, start-ups and industry, her experiences span the drug discovery, diagnostics and medical devices sectors.
Between 2003 and 2009, Dr Rangarajan worked in the Drug Discovery division of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories in Hyderabad. She served in multiple roles, successfully developing early stage molecules for various therapeutic areas such as anti-infectives, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Thereafter, she co-founded Vitas Pharma, a drug discovery and development company focused on novel therapies to treat infections. She leveraged public-private partnerships to build a highly efficient innovation platform delivering multiple lead optimized candidates, granted patents and companion diagnostics.
In 2020, she took on the role of Chief Technology Officer at HealthCubed, a medical devices company, where she was responsible for product development, clinical validation, manufacturing and regulatory affairs.
Dr Rangarajan is a member of the Steering Council of the MedTech Incubator, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H), member of the Scientific Program Committee of IHub-Data, IIIT-H, member of the Selection Committee of the NIDHI-Seed Support System at the Atal Incubation Centre-CCMB and member of the Selection Committee for DST INSPIRE Faculty Fellows.
Dr Rangarajan received the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) Award of Excellence-Women in R&D in 2019. She was selected for the “Champions of Change” initiative of Prime Minister Modi, recognizing India’s emerging entrepreneurs in 2017. She led the Vitas Pharma team that received the Discovery Award of the Longitude Prize Committee, UK in 2016 and was a finalist in the Economic Times Start up Awards (Woman Ahead Category) in 2016.
Dr Rangarajan obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stanford University, Master of Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Ph.D. from Rockefeller University.  She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Goverdhan Mehta, Chairman of CDRI’s Research Council and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad said, “CDRI is well poised to traverse an impressive trajectory with the identification of futuristic and relevant areas of research and induction of new talent. Wishing the new director, Dr Radha Rangarajan, who has worked extensively across academia and industry, all the best and CDRI, exciting and productive times ahead”.
On this occasion, while welcoming and handing over the charge, Dr Srinivasa Reddy, Director CSIR-IICT and Director Additional Charge CSIR-CDRI and CSIR-IIIM Jammu said, Dr Radha Rangarajan, have the expertise in both Pharma industry and academia so she will be an asset for the Institute like CSIR-CDRI which is working for affordable healthcare for all”.
The scientists, administrative staff and students extend their best wishes to Dr Rangarajan for a successful tenure at CSIR-CDRI.