Krishna Ella Explained

Dr. Krishna Ella
Birth Name:Krishna M. Ella
Birth Place:Nemali,Tiruttani, Tamil Nadu, India
Education:Ph.D (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
M.S. (University of Hawaiʻi)
M.Sc. (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore)
Occupation:Scientist, Entrepreneur
Notable Works:Development of Covaxin,ROTAVAC, TypbarTCV
Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech
Awards:Padma Bhushan (2022)
Term:1996–present
Spouse:Suchitra Ella

Dr. Krishna Ella is an Indian scientist and entrepreneur. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech.[1] [2] Ella and his company were responsible for developing India's own COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, World's 1st clinically proven conjugated Typhoid Vaccine, TypbarTCV and ROTAVAC.[3]

Ella worked as a research faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[4]

Early life and education

Dr. Krishna Ella was born into a Telugu-speaking[5] Hindu family in the Tiruttani village, in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, South India in 1969.[6]

Ella obtained a bachelor's degree from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and joined for a Master's degree at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. On a Rotary fellowship, he completed his master's degree from University of Hawaiʻi. He attained his PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the Department of Plant Pathology[6]

Career

Dr. Ella started off his career by joining the pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer, as part of its agricultural division. However, he left to the United States to pursue his education.

He returned to India and set up a small lab in Hyderabad, Bharat Biotech. In 1999, the company launched its Hepatitis B vaccine at a price of per dose and supplied around 350-400 million doses to more than 65 countries.

In 1996, he suggested to the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu to set up a biotech knowledge park (now called Genome Valley).

Dr. Ella's company is the first to manufacture a preservative-free vaccine (Revac-B mcf Hepatitis B Vaccine), and launch India's first cell-cultured Swine Flu vaccine. They also manufacture the world's cheapest Hepatitis vaccines. Bharat Biotech is the first in the world to find a vaccine for the Zika virus.[7] [8] Bharat Biotech has delivered over 4 billion vaccines in 123 countries.

The vaccine against COVID-19 developed by Bharat Biotech, named  Covaxin, was endorsed by the Indian government with an active push by the⠀Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[9] Covaxin usage was opposed by various opposition parties in India terming it a BJP vaccine and Some states such as Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Kerala were hesitant to use it.[10] However, the efficacy of Covaxin against the Delta and Omicron variants made it more acceptable afterwards.[11] Later, Krishna Ella, along with Adar Poonawalla⠀of Serum Institute of India, lauded Prime Minister Modi for a never-seen-before-industry collaboration and for the vision and dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister.[12]

Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Here Are 10 Things To Know About Bharat Biotech, Its Founder Krishna Ella . 9 May 2021 . Moneycontrol.
  2. Web site: Ella, Krishna . Global Health Institute . 9 May 2021.
  3. News: Krishna Ella: How A Farmer's Son Gave India Its First Successful Indigenous Covid-19 Vaccine . 9 May 2021 . Forbes India . en.
  4. Web site: Founder's Profile - Bharat Biotech - A Leading Biotech Company. www.bharatbiotech.com.
  5. Web site: Mathur. Aneesha. 24 December 2021. People criticised Covaxin because it was developed in India, says CJI NV Ramana. India Today.
  6. Web site: Krishna Ella: How A Farmer's Son Gave India Its First Successful Indigenous Covid-19 Vaccine. Forbes India.
  7. Web site: The Man Behind India's First COVID-19 Vaccine is a Tamil Farmer's Son. July 2, 2020.
  8. Web site: Krishna Ella. www.isb.edu.
  9. News: . 1 March 2021 . PM Modi takes first dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin at Delhi's AIIMS . Press Trust of India . New Delhi . 6 August 2022.
  10. News: . 7 June 2021 . Creating Hesitancy, Shifting Demands: How the Opposition Played Mind Games And Vaccine Politics With India. News18. New Delhi . 6 August 2022.
  11. News: Rhythma Kaul . 15 June 2021 . Covaxin booster shot enhances efficacy against Delta, Omicron variants: Study. Hindustan Times . 6 August 2022.
  12. News: . 23 October 2021 . Covid vaccine lakers praise PM Modi's vision, lauds never-seen-before govt, industry collaboration. Live Mint . 6 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Network . Newsmeter . 2022-01-25 . Vaccine Couple: Bharat Biotech's Krishna and Suchitra Ella conferred Padma Bhushan . 2022-06-10 . newsmeter.in . en.
  14. News: SBI loans for entrepreneurs . The Hindu . 31 July 2012 . en-IN.
  15. News: Krishna Ella favours WHO's global outreach over 'vaccine nationalism' . The New Indian Express . 23 February 2021.
  16. Web site: 2022-01-25. Padma awards announced, Padma Vibhushan to Gen Bipin Rawat, Kalyan Singh. 2022-01-25. The Indian Express. en.
  17. Web site: Padma Awards 2022.
  18. Web site: 2022-05-11 . Bharat Biotech co-founder receives honorary degree . 2022-06-10 . International Division . en-US.
  19. Web site: Ella, Nosbusch, Grant to receive honorary degrees from University of Wisconsin–Madison . 2022-08-05 . news.wisc.edu . en-US.
  20. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients . 2022-08-05 . Office of the Secretary of the Faculty . en-US.