Girish Sahni's Biography

Girish Sahni, Director, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology

Dr. Girish Sahni, Director, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology. has completed his Post-Ph.D. Career from Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA as Postdoc Trainee 1984-’86; Rockefeller Univ., New York, USA as Sr. Res. Assc. and Adjunct Faculty ’86-’88; Albert Einstein Coll. Medicine, New York as Sr. Res. Assoc.1987-91; CSIR-Instt. of Microbial Tech :as Senior Scientist 1991-2005.
He has completed his education from Panjab University, Chandigarh: B.Sc. Hons. 1976; M.Sc. Hons 1978; and Ph. D. from (I.I.Sc.) Bangalore 1984.
Dr Sahni has contributed in the area of protein cardiovascular drugs especially ‘clot busters’ and their mode of action in the human body. Lead teams responsible for producing technology for India’s first indigenous clot bluster drug, natural streptokinase (under brand name ‘STPase’ marketed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad), and recombinant streptokinase (produced by Shasun Drugs, Chennai) marketed as several brand names eg.‘Klotbuster’ (Alembic) and ‘LupiFlo’ (Lupin). Developed a novel life-saver thrombolytic drug (Clot-specific streptokinase) India’s first bio therapeutic molecule which is not a Biosimilar that has been patented worldwide, and licensed to a US Pharma company in 2006. Commercial launch expected 2013. Recently, developed Fourth-generation ‘Anti-thrombotic’ clot busters that have been out-licensed in multi-million dollar deals.
He has several publications to his credit and also a member of many societies include Fellow, Indian Academy of Science, Bangalore, and NASI, Allahabad; Fellow, Association of Microbiologists of India; Member, Guha Research Conference.
He is a recipient of many Awards & Distinctions like National Biotechnology Product Development Award 2002 • CSIR Technology Shield 2001-2002 • The Vasvik Industrial Award 2000 • Ranbaxy Award in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2003.