Managing Committee

Our esteem committee members in The Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association (IVMA).

Mr. Adar C. Poonawalla

President
Chief Executive Officer, Serum Institute of India, Pune

Dr. Krishna M. Ella

Vice President
Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Biotech International Ltd, Hyderabad

Dr. G.V.J.A. Harshavardhan

Executive Secretary
Bharat Biotech International Ltd, Hyderabad

Mr. Michael Vernekar

Treasurer
Serum Institute of India, Pune

Ms. Mahima Datla

Committee Member
Managing Director, Biological E. Ltd, Hyderabad

Dr. Rajesh Jain

Committee Member
Managing Director, Panacea Biotec, New Delhi

Dr. Suresh S. Jadhav

Committee Member
Serum Institute of India, Pune

Mr. Rajinder K. Suri

Committee Member
Panacea Biotec, New Delhi

 

President

Mr. Adar C. Poonawalla

Chief Executive Officer


As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of Serum Institute of India (SII), Adar has led the institute to become India’s largest vaccine manufacturer and one of the world’s leading biotech company. Since joining SII in 2001, Adar has been working relentlessly to push forward the company’s growth and operations in the healthcare industry, which was started by his father, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla. Notably, he has been instrumental in expanding SII’s capabilities and building mammoth assembly lines in meeting vaccine requirements of India and other low-and-middle income countries. Staying true to its commitment of providing affordable vaccines, since he taken over, the company’s supply chain has increased to 170 nations from 35 countries, manufacturing 1.5 billion doses of WHO pre-qualified, life-saving vaccines.

 

Vice President

Dr. Krishna Ella

Chairman & Managing Director


Under Dr. Ella’s exemplary leadership, driven with the belief that innovative modern technology in vaccine development is of paramount importance to improve public healthcare system, Bharat Biotech has emerged a global leader in innovative vaccine, since its incorporation in 1996. As a member of various central committees, Dr. Ella has been instrumental in shaping a robust outline of India’s science education and policies. Several awards have been conferred on Dr. Ella including the ET Now Special Recognition for Healthcare Industry Award

 

Executive Secretary

Dr. G.V.J.A. Harshavardhan

Director, Bharat Biotech International Ltd


Dr. G.V.J.A. Harshavardhan is the Director of Viral Vaccines & International Affairs at Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad. He studied Veterinary Medicine at University of Bombay during 1955-59 and Human Physiology at Michigan State University and Program Planning at Cornell University, USA in 1961-62. His career in human vaccine development and production began at the Pasteur Institute of Southern India, Tamil Nadu, India in 1964. He was In-Charge of the Polio Vaccine Production (OPV) Department of the Polio Vaccine Unit funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India that successfully produced Sabin’s OPV for the first time in India in 1969. He also led the core team at the Pasteur Institute of India to successfully establish the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Laboratories by 1979 for the production of DTP group of vaccines by 1981. In 1987 he established the Vaccine Institute in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. As its Managing Director he manufactured Tetanus Vaccine in the private sector till 1997. He was a Short Term Consultant to the World Health Organisation (South East Asia Region) on the manufacture and quality control of DTP vaccines during the period 1984-92. Dr. Harshavardhan joined Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad in 1999. He’s been the Vice President of Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN). He is associated with several national vaccine organisations such as the Founder Treasurer of the Indian Academy of Vaccinology and Immunology, Founder Full Member of the Association for the Prevention of Rabies in India and Executive Secretary: Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association. He has also authored several papers on development and production of vaccines.

 

Committee Member

Ms. Mahima Datla

Managing Director


Mahima Datla is currently the Managing Director of Biological E Limited wherein she over sees the strategic operations within the organisation. Under Ms Mahima Datla’s impeccable leadership, Biological E Limited has witnessed massive growth and achieved various milestones including the successful WHO pre-qualification and launch of the Pentavalent and JE vaccines. Ms Datla is also associated with various international organizations including FICCI, CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) National Biotech committees in India, DCVMN (Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network), Global Health Innovative Technology fund etc.

 

Committee Member

Dr. Rajesh Jain

Managing Director


Dr. Rajesh Jain’s visionary leadership and passion for innovative solutions has enabled Panacea Biotec to explore new horizons and develop an diversified product pipeline for global public health impact through affordable new and innovative medical therapies. Dr. Jain also has 31 granted patents with another 33 under various stages of grant – in the field of vaccines, drug discovery and drug delivery. Dr. Jain is associated as the Vice-President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s National Committee on Biotechnology, among other initiatives that enable holistic development of Indian Industry and Healthcare Infrastructure. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have recognised Rajesh Jain’s efforts towards producing affordable vaccines for mass population across the globe.

We’re having fun making a difference. Ensuring that people can access high-quality medical treatment at an affordable price.

 

Committee Member

Dr. Suresh S. Jadhav

Executive Director


Dr. Suresh Jadhav is Executive Director of Serum Institute of India Ltd. His significant contribution to the holistic development and growth has played a key role in pushing SII to new heights and becoming one of the largest vaccine manufacturers worldwide. Apart from his association with elite international organizations including Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers’ Network (DCVMN) GAVI, Task Force of Sabin Vaccine Institute, WHO IVR-IVAC and Decades of Vaccines (DoV) etc, he also has more than 60 100 technical papers published in International / National journals and two patents credited to his name.

 

Committee Member

Mr. Rajinder K. Suri

Chief Executive – Biologicals


Mr. Suri known for his consultative management style, has been former Member-Policy & Planning Committee (PPC) of GAVI, as also a Member of GAVI Steering Committee for Supply & Procurement Strategy. He has served as Member Executive Committee & Vice-President, DCVMN. Mr Suri has played a lead role in negotiations & interactions with Ministry of Health, Government of India, UN agencies and other Global organizations like WHO, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative & several others. Currently he is representing Panacea Biotec on the Board of EBPMN (Emerging Bio Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Network) and Chair, Covid 19 Control & Prevention Committee (CCPC), Panacea Biotec.