Krishna Ella

Indian biotech scientist

Krishna Ella
Born	Krishna M. Ella 1955 (age 68–69) 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(s)	Scientist, Entrepreneur
Notable work	Development of Covaxin,ROTAVAC, TypbarTCV
Title	Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech
Term	1996–present
Spouse	Suchitra Ella
Awards	Padma Bhushan (2022)

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]^[4]

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.^[5]

Early life and education

Krishna Ella was born into a Telugu-speaking^[6] Hindu family in the Tiruttani village, in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, South India in 1969.^[7]

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 University of Wisconsin–Madison in the department of plant pathology.^[7]^[4]

Career

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 ₹10 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).^{[citation needed]}

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.^[8]^[9] Bharat Biotech has delivered over 4 billion vaccines in 123 countries.^[4]

The vaccine against Covid developed by Bharat Biotech named as Covaxin was endorsed by Indian government with an active push by the Indian Prime minister, Narendra Modi.^[10] Covaxin usage was opposed by various opposition parties in India by terming it as BJP vaccine and Some states such as Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Kerala were hesitant to use it.^[11] However, the efficacy of Covaxin against the Delta and Omicron variants made it more acceptable afterwards.^[12] Later, Krishna Ella along with Adar Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India lauded the Prime Minister Modi for a never-seen before Government-Industry collaboration and for the vision and dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister.^[13]

Awards

ET Now — Special Recognition for Healthcare Industry Award^[14]
JRD Tata awards — Best Entrepreneur of the Year (2012)^[15]
Marico Innovation Award^[14]
University of Southern California—Asia-Pacific Leadership Award^[14]
BioAsia - Genome Valley excellence award (2021)^[16]
Padma Bhushan for his contribution in Covaxin in response to COVID-19, by the Government of India in 2022.^[17]^[18]
University of Wisconsin-Madison — Distinguished Alumni Award (2011)^[4]
University of Wisconsin-Madison — Honorary Doctor of Science degree (2022)^[19]^[20]

References

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