National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Pragya Dhruv Yadav
FELLOW, ELECTED 2022

Born in Kuinkoal, SantKabeer Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India on 01 July 1978. Educated at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia University, Faizabad, B.Sc. 1995-98; M.Sc. 1999-2001; University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, Ph.D. 2001-2004.

Scientist 'F' and In-charge, Maximum Containment Facility (Biosafety Level four facility), Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology, Sus Road, Pune, 2016 to date and Director-in-charge, National Institute for One Health, Nagpur & National One Health Mission April 2024 to date.

International Emerging Infectiouse Diseases, fellow, Center for Diseases control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA, 2005-06, Scientist B & Assistant Biosafety Officer (ABO), BSL-3 Laboratory, 2004-08, Scientist C & ABO, BSL-3 Laboratory, 2008-12, Scientist D, 2012-14, Scientist D & In-chrage, BSL-4 faciilty, 2015-16, Scientist E & In-chrage, BSL-4 faciilty, 2016-21, Scientist F & In-chrage, BSL-4 faciilty, 2021-24, Director-in-charge, National Institute for One Health, Nagpur & Scientist F & In-chrage, BSL-4 faciilty, ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Sus Road, Pashan, Pune, April 2024 till date.

Awards/Honours: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, NET, 2001; Indian Council of Medical Research-Junior Research Fellow, 2001; International Emerging Infectious Disease laboratory training fellowship program, CDC, NCID, Atlanta, Georgia USA, 2005-2006; Travel grant America Society of Virology, United States, 2006; Biosecurity Engagement Program Travel award, Manila, Philippines, 2010; Japan International Corporation Fellows, 2011; GCOE Zoonosis Control Training Program Fellow, Hokkaido University, Japan, 2012; Indian Council of Medical research, Dr. T Ram Chandra Rao Award, 2012; National Academy of Vector Borne disease association, Young Scientist Awards, 2013; Research foundation ICMR-NIV, Achievers of the year 2016. 2017; ICMR, Major General Saheb Singh Sokhey award, 2017; Advisory Council Member of International Society on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever,2017; ICMR, Exemplary services award [Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala], 2019; Indian Virology Society Award, 2019; The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Standards Assays Nipah Task Force member, 2019; National Academy of Vector Borne disease association, (ICOV-14, 2019), COVID worrier award by Governor of Maharashtra, 2020; Member of WHO SEARO Expert Reference Group on Nipah virus,2020; 107th Indian Science Congress; Pride of India - Mega Science Expo” ICMR Most Informative exhibits, 2020; Indian Association of Occupational Health, Mumbai, Dr. K.M. Bhansali Oration award, 2021; Sharda Shakti, extraordinary honorary award, 2021; National Academy of Medical Sciences, Amritsar Award, 2021; National Academy of Medical Sciences, Dr Vinod Kumar Bhargava Award, 2021; Outstanding COVID-19 Frontline Warrior Award for the COVID-19 work by National Academy of Sciences, India, 2021, NAMS Dr. Pran Nath Chhuttani Oration by National Academy of Sciences, India, 2022, Appreciation Award for Covaxin Vaccine, Shere-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar by Honourable Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, Bharat Bhagya VidhataSamman, Ministry of Culture, Government of India at Red Fort, Delhi by the former Union health minister and the current BJP national president J P Nadda, 2022, Brig (Dr.) KM Rao Award for Biological Sciences, 2022 from Defense Research and Development Establishment, India, 2022, Rotary Rising Star Award, Rotary Club, Pune, 2022, Indian Women Path breakers, The Week, 2022. Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Award, ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, 2023, Young Woman Scientist Award for 2021-22, BioSpectrum Excellence Awards 2023, Women in Medicine Award, National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 2024, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award in medicine category, MsDroupadiMurmu, the Hon’ble President of India at Gantantra Mandap, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 2024, Best team research award for Monkeypox diagnostics and vaccines team at ICMR-DHR, Health Research Excellence Summit, 14th November 2025, New Delhi, Service Excellence Award, February 2025, 3131 Rotary Club Pune, Vocational Excellence Recognition Award, Rotary club of sports city, Pune, 25th March 2025, Dr. T Ramchandra Rao Award, International Conference on Vector-Borne Diseases Chennai, 21st January 2025. Expert Advisory Committee member (EAC) for Capacity Building of Doctors and Hospital Engineers in Structural and Non-Structural Mitigation Measures for Hospital Safety and Disaster Resilience, DBT's "Precision Biotherapeutics - mRNA Therapy - Sub-sectorial Expert Committee on Biomanufacturing, Executive Steering Committee on One Health" under the One Health Mission, member Scientific Steering Committee on One Health, 2024.

Fellow: Indian Virology Society, 2019; Society for Applied Biotechnology, 2012, Fellow National Academy of Medical Sciences, 2023, Fellow Natioal Academy of Agricutural Sciences, 2022, World Health Organization TAG-CO-VAC Member, 2024, World Health Organization TAG-VE Member, 2024, Expert member for SAB for the Wastewater surveillance for pandemic prevention (WaSPP) network, Guideline Development Group (GDG) for the Clinical and Diagnostic Specific MERS-CoV

Research Areas: Virology, Molecular Biology, Animal sciences, vaccine, clinical trial, and Biocontainment, One health, Pandemic Preparedenss, Medical Countermeasure

Address: Director-in-charge, National Institute for One Health and Scientist F, Group Leader, Maximum Containment Facility, BSL-4 Group, ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune 411021, Maharashtra; [Tel: Off. (020) 26006111; Cell: 9921836654; Email: hellopragya22@gmail.com; yadav.pragya@gov.in]