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Oct 25, 2024, 23:26

Govindarajan Padmanabhan has been awarded with the Vigyan Ratna Award 2024

Prof. Govindarajan Padmanabhan has been bestowed with the Vigyan Ratna Award 2024 for lifetime achievement and contributions in the field of Science and Technology.

Professor Govindarajan Padmanabhan, a pioneering Indian biochemist and biotechnologist, has made significant contributions to molecular biology and biotechnology. Born on March 20, 1938, in Chennai, he is a former director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and currently serves as an honorary professor in the biochemistry department at IISc, as well as Chancellor of the Central University of Tamil Nadu.

In his early research, Prof. Padmanabhan focused on transcriptional regulation in eukaryotic liver genes and pivoted toward molecular biology in 1973, advancing studies in eukaryotic systems at a time when bacterial research dominated the field. His work has provided critical insights into heme’s role in cellular processes, including discovering the heme-biosynthetic pathway in the malarial parasite, which he identified as a potential drug target. He also explored vaccine development, notably demonstrating the antimalarial potential of curcumin in combination therapies.

For his scientific contributions, Prof. Padmanabhan received the Padma Shri in 2007 and has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the TWAS Prize. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, the National Academy of Sciences, India, and the World Academy of Sciences.

The Vigyan Ratna Award is the highest honor conferred by the Government of India for outstanding achievements in science, technology, and innovation. Established in 2023 and first awarded in 2024, it recognizes individuals for their lifetime contributions to these fields and is often seen as the Indian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The award is part of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar scheme, which includes additional honors such as Vigyan Shri and Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar.

Each year, up to three individuals are selected, with nominations invited from January 14 to February 28. Award recipients are announced on May 11 and presented with the award on August 23. In its inaugural year, the award was given to Govindarajan Padmanabhan for his significant work on the malaria parasite.

For more information visit oncodaily.com