Professor M. Radhakrishna Pillai is one of India’s most distinguished biotechnology leaders, an internationally respected scientist whose career has consistently bridged discovery, innovation, and societal impact. As Director of the Government of India’s Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology for 15 transformative years, he reshaped the institute into a world-class engine of translational research. Dr Pillai is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (London), National Academy of Medical Sciences and all three Indian Science Academies. A pioneer in disease biology and clinical biotechnology, Professor Pillai has authored more than 230 scientific publications with an H index of 50 and mentored 32 PhD scholars. His work on HPV vaccines conducted with support from the Gates Foundation, WHO, and NIH, redefined global cervical cancer prevention by providing the evidence base for reducing vaccine schedules from three doses to one. This breakthrough became one of India’s most influential scientific contributions to public health, improving access and saving millions of lives. This breakthrough has become one of India’s most influential scientific contributions to public health, improving access and saving millions of lives. His scientific leadership extends beyond vaccines. He led India’s first clinical trial demonstrating curcumin’s efficacy in preventing oral pre-cancers, and played a pivotal role in advancing a novel small-molecule drug for liver cancer that has now entered industry development pipelines. Professor Pillai is equally celebrated for building national scientific infrastructure. He established India’s first National Virology Network laboratory, strengthening the country’s response to outbreaks such as H1N1 and Dengue. He founded BioNest, a start-up incubator that has supported more than 30 biotech ventures, and created a cutting-edge (USD) 14 million Bio-Innovation Center that accelerates advances in immunology, vaccines, diagnostics, cell-based therapies, and nanotechnology. A passionate educator and institution-builder, he led a nationally recognized PhD program in Translational Medicine and a pioneering Master’s program in Biotechnology. His commitment to nurturing young talent includes innovative school outreach initiatives, sparking scientific curiosity among students across the country. Today, as Chairman of Sraman Life Sciences, Professor Pillai brings this rare combination of scientific depth, regulatory insight, and visionary leadership to help biotech innovators move confidently from concept to clinic. His philosophy is simple and powerful: science must not stop at discovery; it’s true purpose is to transform lives.