Krishna Ella | |
|---|---|
| Born | Krishna M. Ella 1969 (age 55–56) |
| Education | Ph.D (University of Wisconsin–Madison) M.S. (University of Hawaii) M.Sc. (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore) |
| Occupation(s) | Scientist, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder ofBharat Biotech |
| Notable work | Development ofCovaxin, ROTAVAC, Typbar TCV |
| Title | Executive Chairman ofBharat Biotech |
| Term | 1996–present |
| Spouse | Suchitra Ella |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2022) |
Krishna Ella is an Indian scientist andentrepreneur. He is the co-founder and Executive Chairman ofBharat Biotech,[1][2] a biotechnology company known for developingCovaxin, India's first indigenousCOVID-19 vaccine, in collaboration with theIndian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).[3] Bharat Biotech was also involved in the development of ROTAVAC, a vaccine against rotavirus, in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and international partners, including the Rotavirus Vaccine Development Program (RVDP) of PATH and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA; and Typbar TCV, a typhoid conjugate vaccine.[4]Ella worked as a research faculty member at theMedical University of South Carolina in Charleston after earning hisPh.D. from theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison.[5] In 2022, Ella and his wife, Suchitra Ella, received thePadma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, for their contributions to trade and industry.[6]
Krishna Ella was born in 1969 inNemali, a village nearTiruttani in theTiruvallur district ofTamil Nadu,India, into aTelugu-speakingHindu family.[4] His father was a farmer.[4]Ella completed hisbachelor's degree atTamil Nadu Agricultural University and earned anM.Sc. from theUniversity of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. He then pursued anM.S. at theUniversity of Hawaii on aRotary fellowship, followed by aPh.D. in plant pathology from theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison.[4][7]
After completing his education, Ella briefly worked at the agricultural division of the German companyBayer.[8] He later returned to India and co-foundedBharat Biotech inHyderabad in 1996 with his wife, Suchitra Ella.[2] The company launched itsHepatitis B vaccine in 1999, supplying millions of doses to over 65 countries.[4] Bharat Biotech also developed a vaccine candidate for theZika virus.[9] Ella proposed the establishment of a biotech knowledge park to the thenChief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,N. Chandrababu Naidu, which later becameGenome Valley.[8]