Dr Beena Pillai, Chief Scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, took over as the new Director of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram.
The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet has approved her appointment for a five-year term. Dr Pillai succeeds Prof Chandrabhas Narayana, who completed his five-year stint as Director in September last year.
An accomplished scientist in RNA biology and neuronal development and function, Dr Pillai’s lab at CSIR-IGIB studies the role of RNAs in early development, neurogenesis, adult behaviour, disease susceptibility, and miRNA markers for human diseases.
Born in Kalady, Kerala, she did her B.Sc from Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, and an integrated MS-PhD from IISc, Bengaluru, before joining CSIR-IGIB as a young scientist. Her awards include the National Bioscience Award, INSA Young Scientist Award, and CSIR Young Scientist Award in Biological Sciences.
BRIC-RGCB is a national institute under the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology. Its mandates include discovery research in disease biology, translational sciences, technology development, and training.
Dr Pillai, who comes from CSIR-IGIB, a premier institute focused on genomics, molecular medicine and bioinformatics, is expected to steer new initiatives at BRIC-RGCB, including a cGMP facility, a bio-manufacturing hub, and an oncology referral hospital.
