Dr G Padmanaban awarded GM Modi Award 2005

EHM News Bureau - Bangalore

The Gujar Mal Modi Science Foundation has presented this year’s GM Modi Award for Innovative Science and Technology to Professor G Padmanabhan, distinguished biotechnologist, department of biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Dr Padmanabhan is a pioneer in ushering recombinant DNA technology as a tool in modern life science research in the country. His own research for over 40 years has spanned a large spectrum, starting from elucidating the neurotoxic principle in Keshari dal (Lathyrus sativus), then on to the understanding of the transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in drug metabolism in mammalian liver and finally on to unravel the vulnerable biochemical targets in the malaria parasite in order to develop new antimalarials.

His research on the heme-biosynthetic pathway as a potential drug target in the malarial parasite has received wide international attention. He has also played an important role in the development of modern vaccines at the indian institute of science, recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and a DNA vaccine against rabies in particular. He has published over 120 papers.

Dr Padmanaban, born on March 20, 1938, obtained his PhD at the Indian Institute of Science in 1966 and was appointed as assistant professor at the Institute in 1969. He served as director of the Institute during 1994-1998.