Microbiologist Dr. Girish Sahni assumes charge as Director General Of CSIR

Chandigarh: Dr. Girish Sahni, who helmed the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) on August 27, has assumed office at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as the Director General.

Sahni took over as head of the nation’s premier scientific and technological research organization on 24 August. By virtue of being head of CSIR, he will have the position of ex-officio secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) of the ministry of science and technology.

Born on 2nd March 1956, Sahni acquired his Ph.D. in 1984 from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) located in Bengaluru. His illustrious career included tenures at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Rockefeller University and the University of California all in the US.

Subsequently after spending five years in the US, Sahni returned to India. In 1991, he joined CSIR-IMTECH and was appointed the organization’s director in 2005.

Sahni has frequently observed that all bacteria are not harmful. He gave the example of Gut Microflora present in human being’s digestive tracts as that of beneficial bacteria. Sahni commented that pineapple juice is more efficacious than any existing antibiotic in treating a throat infection. He said that natural vinegar helped treat diabetes.

Sahni has specialized in biotechnology, molecular biology, and protein engineering. He made enormous contributions in the domain of protein cardiovascular drugs particular ‘clot busters’ and their operation mechanism in the body of humans.

As part of a team, he developed the country’s first ever indigenous clot buster drug – natural streptokinase as well as recombinant streptokinase.

His team was also responsible for producing a novel life-saver thrombolytic drug (clot-specific streptokinase), our first bio-therapeutic molecule that isn’t a biosimilar. This life-saver drug has been patented globally. Also the former is licensed to an American Pharmaceutical company, and the commercial launch is expected next year.

Lately a team spearheaded by him produced fourth-generation ‘Anti-thrombotic‘ clot busters never achieved before by anyone in the world. Dr. Sahni enjoys international recognition for his research efforts. He has authored many landmark papers published in prestigious scientific journals and has a host of national and international patents in his repertoire.

About the author

Nitin Agarwal

Nitin started PC-Tablet because of his keen interest in space research, technology, and gadgets. He is an avid reader, technology enthusiast, and like to explore new places. His passion for knowledge keeps him running all the time.