Mentor

1.  Dr. Nooruddin Khan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences,

University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R.Rao Road, Gachibowli,

Hyderabad, 500046, India

Announcing of our Honorary Member Advisory Board and Academic Research Mentor for Animal Virology. We delighted to have Dr. Nooruddin Khan, his educational background and prominent industrial experiences related to biotechnology, makes him an ideal person to connect with. His gracious presence will add great value for our Innovation Center. He will be supporting our vision to foster the start-up and Entrepreneurial ecosystem in the academic institutes in the state of Odisha and surroundings for empowering youth to undertake value- added translational research (E-YUVA). He will be helps BIRAC innovation fellows and E-YUVA fellows for best practice of in vitro and in vivo tests and trials of antiviral compounds and vaccine formulations.

                                                       2.  Dr. D. P. Samantary, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor Department of Microbiology,

College of Basic Science & Humanities, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology,

Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-deviprasad-samantaray-30909a98/

Announcing of our Honorary Member Advisory Board and Academic Research Mentor for Industrial Microbiology & Biomaterial Enginering. We delighted to have Dr. Deviprasad Samantaray, his educational background and prominent industrial experiences related to Industrial Microbiology, makes him an ideal person to connect with. His gracious presence will add great value for our Innovation Center. He will be supporting our vision to foster the start-up and Entrepreneurial ecosystem in the academic institutes in the state of Odisha and surroundings for empowering youth to undertake value-added translational research (E-YUVA). He will be helps BIRAC innovation fellows and E-YUVA fellows for best practice of in microbial production techniques, biopolymer film and composites-based biomaterial synthesis and standard quality control.

Looking forward to working with you

                                                       3.  Mr. Devanjan Chakravarty

Patent Lawyer –

SciTech Patent Art Services Pvt Ltd Co-Founder -

Facilex Diagnostics Private Limited LL.B. (Hons), IITKGP,

B. Tech. (Biotechnology), VIT,Vellore

linden: linkedin.com/in/devanjanchakravarty

Announcing of our Honorary Member Advisory Board and Startup Mentor for Business and Legal Matters. We delighted to have Mr. Devanjan Chakravarty, his educational background and prominent startup experiences related to affordable healthcare solutions, makes him an ideal person to connect with. His gracious presence will add great value for our Innovation Center. He will be supporting our vision to foster the start-up and Entrepreneurial ecosystem in the academic institutes in the state of Odisha and surroundings for empowering youth to undertake value-added translational research (E-YUVA). He will be helps BIRAC innovation fellows and E-YUVA fellows for best practice of technology upscaling, identification of key elements and specification of the invention, drafting, legal frame workings & business model development.

                                                       4. Mr. G. Arun Kumar

Registered Indian Patent Agent (IN/PA1445). Bachelors degree in Law,

Madras and Puducherry Bar council.

Firm: Arun Associates Founder - IPR4ALL

M.Phil in Biotechnology. M.Sc. (Microbiology)

Announcing of our Honorary Member Advisory Board and Startup Mentor for Legal Matters. We delighted to have Mr.G. Arun Kumar, his educational background and prominent industrial experiences related to biotechnology, makes him an ideal person to connect with. His gracious presence will add great value for our Innovation Center. He will be supporting our vision to foster the start-up and Entrepreneurial ecosystem in the academic institutes in the state of Odisha and surroundings for empowering youth to undertake value-added translational research (E-YUVA). He will be helps BIRAC innovation fellows and E-YUVA fellows for best IPR Practice.

Looking forward to working with you and IPR4ALL

                                                       5.     Dr. Anil Kondreddy, 

Chief Executive Officer ASPIRE-BioNEST,

ASPIRE BioNEST

University of Hyderabad

Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500046

Tel: 040-29881897

E-mail: drkondreddy@uohyd.ac.in; drkondreddy@gmail.com

Website: http://bionest.uohyd.ac.in/

University of Hyderabad

We are honored to welcome Dr. Anil Kondreddy, Chief Executive Officer of ASPIRE-BioNEST at the University of Hyderabad, as an Honorary Member of our Advisory Board and Startup Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur. Dr. Kondreddy is a distinguished molecular microbiologist and biotechnology expert with a strong track record in translational research and startup incubation. As CEO of ASPIRE-BioNEST, he has been instrumental in fostering a vibrant ecosystem for biotech startups, providing them with access to cutting-edge infrastructure, mentorship, and funding opportunities. Under his leadership, ASPIRE- BioNEST has achieved significant milestones, including the establishment of India's first fast-track research supply center in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific. This initiative has streamlined access to critical lab supplies, accelerating research and innovation for startups and researchers alike. His research contributions encompass areas such as plant immunity, microbial elicitors, and transcriptome analysis, with several publications in reputed journals. We look forward to Dr. Kondreddy's mentorship in nurturing the next generation of biotech innovators through the BIRAC E- YUVA ecosystem.

              6.     Dr. Viswanadham D,

VP and Head - Life Sciences Incubation

IKP Knowledge Park

+91-7989646563, Email: viswanadham@ikpknowledgepark.com+91-7989646563, Email: viswanadham@ikpknowledgepark.com

LinkdIn: linkedin.com/in/viswanadhamduppatla

We are honored to welcome Dr. Viswanadham Duppatla, Vice President of Biopharma Innovation & Biomanufacturing at IKP Knowledge Park, Genome Valley, Hyderabad, as an E-YUVA Monitoring Committe (EMC) member, Technology Evaluator and Startup Research Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupu. Dr. Duppatla is a distinguished biochemist and innovation leader with over a decade of experience in cell and molecular biology, biophysics, and immunology. He has developed novel protein refolding methods and has been instrumental in mentoring life science startups, particularly those supported by the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme. His academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Andhra University, followed by a Master's in Biotechnology from the University of Calicut. He earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, focusing on DNA mismatch repair. Dr. Duppatla further honed his research skills as a Marie Curie Industrial Network Fellow at the University of Würzburg, Germany. At IKP Knowledge Park, Dr. Duppatla leads initiatives to foster biopharma innovation and biomanufacturing. He is passionate about transforming problem statements into profitable ventures, a theme he emphasized during his session at YEB 2025, BITS Pilani. We look forward to Dr. Duppatla's mentorship in nurturing the next generation of biotech innovators through the BIRAC E-YUVA ecosystem.

      7. Dr. Insaf Ahmed Qureshi

Associate Professor Department of Biotechnology and

Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences,

University of Hyderabad, India

linkedin.com/in/dr-insaf-ahmed-qureshi-a7758830a

We are honored to welcome Dr. Insaf Ahmed Qureshi as a distinguished Honorary Member of our Research Advisory Board and Startup Research Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur.

Dr. Qureshi is an eminent academic and researcher with expertise in protein biochemistry, molecular parasitology, and structural biology, with a key focus on phosphorylation and ubiquitin- mediated degradation pathways in Leishmania. His research contributes to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for combating neglected diseases like kala-azar.

His translational insight and strong academic foundation are instrumental in mentoring innovation fellows, refining R&D strategies, and strengthening biotech startups in India. His involvement will accelerate our mission to bridge scientific discovery with real-world application.

We look forward to leveraging Dr. Qureshi’s mentorship to nurture a new generation of innovators through the BIRAC E-YUVA ecosystem

      8. Prof. Lingaraj Sahoo

Professor, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering,

Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. Visiting faculty, Gifu University and Shizuoka University, Japan & Institut des Sciences Végétales, France

linkedin.com/in/lingaraj-sahoo-19a93b30

We are honored to welcome Prof. Lingaraj Sahoo, a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of plant biotechnology, as an E-YUVA Monitoring Committe (EMC) member, Technology Evaluator and Startup Research Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur. His research focuses on genetic engineering and functional genomics of plants, with an emphasis on developing biotic and abiotic stress-tolerant crops. His lab has made significant strides in improving Asiatic grain legumes for resistance to viruses, insects, salinity, and drought through genomics-assisted approaches.With over 190 publications and more than 5,500 citations, Prof. Sahoo's contributions to plant science are widely recognized.

Prof. Sahoo's extensive experience in translational plant biology and his commitment to mentoring young researchers make him an invaluable asset to our innovation ecosystem. His guidance will be instrumental in advancing our mission to foster a vibrant startup culture and promote value-added translational research in biotechnology.

We look forward to collaborating with Prof. Sahoo to inspire and support the next generation of biotech innovators.

  9.  Dr. Subir Kumar Mandal

Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute

(CSIR-CSMCRI), Bhavnagar,

Ph.D. in Marine Sciences and a prestigious Monbukagakusho Fellowship from the Japanese government, during which he conducted postdoctoral research at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

We are honored to welcome Dr. Subir Kumar Mandal, as an Honorary Member of our Research Advisory Board and Startup Technical Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur.

Dr. Mandal is a distinguished researcher specializing in marine biotechnology, coastal ecology, and climate change. His extensive work encompasses the study of marine phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and the impact of environmental pollutants on marine ecosystems. Notably, he has contributed to the identification and characterization of various algal species and their responses to ecological stressors. His collaborative projects with organizations like ISRO have led to the development of remote sensing algorithms for detecting algal blooms, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of his work. His expertise in marine biotechnology and commitment to translational research make him an invaluable asset to our innovation ecosystem. As a mentor, Dr. Mandal will guide our startups and research fellows in developing sustainable solutions rooted in marine science, fostering a new generation of innovators in the field. We look forward to the insights and leadership Dr. Mandal brings to our community 

  10.  Dr. Debasis Dash 

Director of the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, 

Former Chief Scientist at CSIR- 

Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB),

linkedin.com/in/debasis-dash-23003914

We are honored to welcome Dr. Debasis Dash, Director of the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, as an Honorary Member of our E-YUVA Monitoring Committe (EMC), Technology Evaluator Panel (TEP) and Startup Technical Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur. Dr. Dash is a distinguished computational biologist with over two decades of experience in genomics, proteomics, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare. His notable contributions include the development of award-winning bioinformatics tools such as PLHost and GenoCluster, and the creation of AI-based medical imaging solutions like RAPID-CT for automated triage in radiology. Dr. Dash's research has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of proteogenomics and has led to significant discoveries in human plasma proteins and disease biomarkers. As Director of ILS, Dr. Dash continues to foster innovation in biotechnology, emphasizing translational research and the integration of AI in life sciences. His leadership is pivotal in mentoring startups and guiding them towards developing commercially viable technologies. We look forward to Dr. Dash's invaluable mentorship in nurturing the next generation of biotech innovators through the BIRAC E-YUVA ecosystem. 

  11.  Dr. Joish Madhusudhana Murthy 

Senior Manager - Infra & operations, BITS BioCyTiH Foundation

Founder - Joish Agriscience Post Doc- BIRAC

Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Nanotechnology

linkedin.com/in/joish-madhusudhana-murthy-0242bb8a

Announcing of our Honorary Member Advisory Board and Startup Mentor for Industrial Technolgy Development & Grant writing and Licensing. We delighted to have Dr. Joish Madhusudhana Murthy, his educational background and prominent industrial experiences related to biotechnology, makes him an ideal person to connect with. His gracious presence will add great value for our Innovation Center. He will be supporting our vision to foster the start-up and Entrepreneurial ecosystem in the academic institutes in the state of Odisha and surroundings for empowering youth to undertake value-added translational research (E-YUVA). He will be helps BIRAC innovation fellows and E-YUVA fellows for best Innovation Practice.

  12.  Mr. Partha Pratim Das Mahapatra

Founder & CEO, EzeRx Health Tech Pvt. Ltd

MBA, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta & Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, B.Sc. IT from Kuvempu University

linkedin.com/in/partha-pratim-das-mahapatra-07295a3a

We are honored to welcome Mr. Partha Pratim Das Mahapatra, Founder & CEO of EzeRx Health Tech Pvt. Ltd., as an Honorary Member of our Technology Evaluator Panel (TEP) and Startup Business Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur. Mr. Mahapatra is a visionary technocrat who transitioned from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurship with a mission to revolutionize preventive healthcare. In 2018, he founded EzeRx Health Tech Pvt. Ltd., focusing on developing non- invasive, affordable diagnostic solutions aimed at improving healthcare accessibility, especially in underserved regions. Under his leadership, EzeRx introduced EzeCheck, claimed to be the world's first non-invasive hemoglobin testing device, which provides rapid, blood-free anemia screening. This innovation has been instrumental in addressing anemia prevalence in rural and tribal communities across India. Mr. Mahapatra's contributions have been recognized with several accolades, including the 14th Anjani Mashelkar Award (2024), Aarohan Social Innovator Award (2019), and support from the BIRAC-BIG Innovator program and Indian Oil Startup Initiative. His dedication to social innovation and experience in scaling health-tech solutions make him an invaluable asset to our ecosystem. As a mentor, Mr. Mahapatra will provide strategic guidance to our startups, fostering the development of impactful healthcare technologies. We look forward to his mentorship in nurturing the next generation of biotech innovators through the BIRAC E-YUVA ecosystem.

  13.  Dr. T. Pavan Kumar

Principal Scientist at the CSIR- Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology

(CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar 

linkedin.com/in/dr-t-pavan-kumar-6712211b

 We are honored to welcome Dr. T. Pavan Kumar, as an Honorary Member of our Advisory Board and Startup Technical Mentor at the BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, GIET University, Gunupur. Dr. Kumar is a distinguished researcher with extensive expertise in organic chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and intellectual property rights. Dr. Kumar's dedication to  fostering innovation extends beyond research. He has been instrumental in mentoring startups, guiding them through the intricacies of technology.