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Renu Swarup

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Renu Swarup
Chairperson, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
Preceded byK. VijayRaghavan
Secretary, Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India
In office
April 10, 2018 – October 31, 2021
Preceded byAshutosh Sharma
Succeeded byRajesh Sudhir Gokhale
Personal details
NationalityIndian
Alma materJohn Innes Centre Norwich, UK
Awards
  • BioSpectrum Person of the Year (2012)
  • National Entrepreneurship Award (2017)
  • TWAS Regional Prize in Science Diplomacy (2018)
  • Newly discovered microbial species Natrialba swarupiae, named in her honour (2020)
Scientific career
Fields

Dr. Renu Swarup is an Indian geneticist and former Secretary, Government of India, formerly heading the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.[1][2][3] She has actively contributed in the formulation of India's Biotechnology Vision and Strategy.[4][5] She is credited with the establishment of India's largest microbial resource centre, Microbial Culture Collection.[6]

To acknowledge her support in microbial diversity research in India and simplifying provisions of the Biological diversity Act, 2002, a newly discovered microbial species Natrialba swarupiae has been named in her honour by the National Centre for Cell Science.[7][6]

In addition to her current role, she holds the position of chairperson, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Company incorporated by the Government of India to promote research and innovation in the Biotech Enterprise with special focus on Start-Ups and SMEs.[8][9]

Education

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Swarup earned her PhD in the field of Genetics and Plant Breeding. She did her Post-Doctoral work with the Commonwealth Scholarship in the lab of Professor Roy Davies at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. In 1989 she returned to India and took up the assignment of a Science Manager in the Department of Biotechnology.[2][6]

Career

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Renu Swarup has served in the Department of Biotechnology for nearly 29 years. She was the Senior Advisor and Scientist- H at DBT before taking over as Secretary to Government of India on April 10, 2018.[10]

At the Department of Biotechnology, Swarup has overseen national programmes on Bioresource development and utilization,[11][12] spatial characterisation of biodiversity, second generation bioethanol and drugs from microbes[13][14] and the National Biopharma Mission.[15]

She was instrumental in formulation of the Biotechnology Vision in 2001, National Biotechnology Development Strategy in 2007 and Strategy II, 2015–20 as the Member Secretary of the Expert Committee.[16][10]

Swarup is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) and a life member of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences(TAAS).[17][18] She also serves on the Board Of Management of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed university) in Andhra Pradesh, India.[19]

She has been a supporter of women scientists and has been involved in several initiatives that encourage participation of women in scientific and technological research. She initiated a DBT scheme called Biotechnology Career Advancement for Women Scientists (BioCARe).[20][10]  She was a member of the task force on Women in Science, constituted by the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister.[21][4] She is also a member of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World.[22]

Under her leadership, the Department Of Biotechnology played a key role in developing technological solutions for COVID-19 in India.[23][24]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ "Rajesh Gokhale Succeeds Renu Swarup as Department of Biotechnology Secretary". The Wire. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Dr. Renu Swarup | Department of Biotechnology". www.dbtindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  3. ^ a b Bureau, BW Online. "BW Most Influential Woman Of India: Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 2020-03-06. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b "Women Achievers- DR RENU SWARUP". www.biospectrumindia.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  5. ^ www.ETHealthworld.com. "Biotechnology in India: Moving towards a USD $ 100 billion Indian bio-economy - ET HealthWorld". ETHealthworld.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  6. ^ a b c d "Resilient microbe named after our alumna Dr Renu Swarup". John Innes Centre. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  7. ^ a b Padmanabhan, Sunderarajan. "NCCS scientists find new microbial species, name it after DBT Secretary". @businessline. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  8. ^ "10 Leaders, 10 Questions: Renu Swarup". IndiaBioscience. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  9. ^ "Renu Swaroop appointed Secretary- Biotechnology Department | Indian Bureaucracy is an Exclusive News Portal". 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  10. ^ a b c "Dr. Renu Swarup appointed as Secretary, Department of Biotechnology". Research Matters. 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  11. ^ "Vigyan se Vikas- BIRAC Celebrates 7th Foundation Day by Nurturing Innovations to Empower India". Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  12. ^ "IITH-incubated Startup develops 'Gamified Arm Rehabilitation Device' for stroke victims". www.biospectrumindia.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  13. ^ "Feedback sought on India's first draft guidelines on nano-medicines". Hindustan Times. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  14. ^ "Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates new InStem facility". www.biospectrumindia.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  15. ^ Pioneer, The. "Integrating innovation with national development". The Pioneer. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  16. ^ India, Renu Swarup | Managing Director-Biotechnology Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council| (2017-09-18). "Renu Swarup | BioPharma India". BioPharma India 2017. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  17. ^ a b The National Academy of Sciences (2018). ""The National Academy of Sciences, India Fellows Elected for the year 2018"" (PDF).
  18. ^ "TAAS". www.taas.in. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  19. ^ "SSSIHL | About SSSIHL | University Structure". www.sssihl.edu.in. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  20. ^ "Renu Swarup on ICGEB and the Women in Science Programme". ICGEB. 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  21. ^ "Report of National taskforce of Women in Science" (PDF). 2004.
  22. ^ "Swarup Renu | OWSD". owsd.net. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  23. ^ "'COVID has set example of how govt is looking at science, its role of facilitation'". The Indian Express. 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  24. ^ "Science Monitor - Interview on COVID-19 with Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT, GoI (E)". India Science. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  25. ^ "BioSpectrum Awards 2012". www.biospectrumindia.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  26. ^ Official website, BIRAC (2017). "DR RENU SWARUP (SENIOR ADVISOR, DBT AND MD, BIRAC) RECEIVES NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD 2016-2017".
  27. ^ "Global Newsletter - July 2018". TiE - Global Entrepreneurship Organization. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  28. ^ "The National Academy of Sciences, India - Memorial Lecture Awards 2018". www.nasi.org.in. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  29. ^ "TWAS Regional Awards". TWAS. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  30. ^ Dansil, Prabeen (2019-07-11). "Agriculture Leadership Awards 2019 Announced |". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  31. ^ "The Bold And The Influential". www.magzter.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  32. ^ Padmanabhan, Sunderarajan. "NCCS scientists find new microbial species, name it after DBT Secretary". @businessline. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  33. ^ "Species: Natrialba swarupiae". lpsn.dsmz.de. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
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