Govindarajan Padmanaban, Biochemist
Biochemist

Govindarajan Padmanaban

Born 20 March 1938 · verify

Led research on liver metabolism and gene regulation at the Indian Institute of Science.

Govindarajan Padmanaban is an Indian biochemist and biotechnologist. He was the former director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and currently serves as honorary professor in the department of biochemistry at IISc and Chancellor of Central University of Tamil Nadu.

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A detail that
surprised us

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In 2004, Padmanaban's team was the first in India to scientifically validate curcumin's antimalarial efficacy in combination therapy.

The Story

1
In 1966, Govindarajan Padmanaban earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, marking the start of his deep dive into molecular parasitology.
2
🌿 By 2004, his team at IISc demonstrated the antimalarial properties of curcumin, revealing its potential in combination therapies against malaria.
3His research group uncovered the heme-biosynthetic pathway in the malaria parasite, identifying it as a novel drug target, shifting the direction of antimalarial drug development.
4From 1994 to 1998, Padmanaban served as the director of IISc, becoming the first alumnus to hold this prestigious position and influencing the institute's biotech initiatives.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1983, Padmanaban won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, one of India's highest science honors, for his work on liver gene regulation, a rare focus area at the time.

🖼️

Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
Govindarajan Padmanaban at an event in Kolkata, serving as a renowned biochemist (2004).
Govindarajan Padmanaban at an event in Kolkata, serving as a renowned biochemist (2004).
2004
Govindarajan Padmanaban receives the Vigyan Ratna award from the President of India in New Delhi (2024).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Madras
Govindarajan Padmanaban was born in Madras (now Chennai), India, into a family of engineers originally from Tanjore district.
1938
📚
Education
Ph.D. from IISc Bangalore
Completed Ph.D. in biochemistry at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, focusing on liver gene regulation.
1966
🏅
Award
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
Received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology for his research in biological sciences.
1983
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Shri
Honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for distinguished service in science.
1991
⚡
Career
Director of IISc Bangalore
Became the first IISc alumnus to serve as Director, leading the institute from 1994 to 1998.
1994
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, for contributions to science and engineering.
2003
🌟
Other
Curcumin antimalarial discovery
His research team scientifically proved the antimalarial efficacy of curcumin in combination therapies.
2004
🏅
Award
Received Vigyan Ratna Award
Honored with the Vigyan Ratna Award recognizing his lifetime contributions to Indian science.
2024
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
💡SURPRISING

His research revealed that malaria parasites possess a heme biosynthesis pathway, overturning previous assumptions that the parasite scavenged heme exclusively from the host.

02 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Padmanaban was the first IISc alumnus to become its director (1994-1998), symbolizing a rare home-grown leadership in India’s premier science institute.

03 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

His team’s 2004 discovery that curcumin, derived from turmeric, had antimalarial properties brought traditional Indian medicine into the spotlight within modern parasitology research.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Dr. Padmanaban, INSA senior scientist, sheds light on India's progress in GM crop cultivation

🌱 What changed because of them

Padmanaban’s identification of the malaria parasite’s heme pathway as a drug target sparked new avenues for antimalarial drug research in India, influencing both pharmaceutical strategies and public health policies. His leadership at IISc boosted indigenous biotechnology research, helping establish India as a significant player in molecular parasitology and vaccine development. As Chancellor, he has also shaped higher education by integrating scientific research with academic governance.

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