Rakesh Mishra

Rakesh Mishra is the Director of TIGS, India. He received his PhD from the University of Allahabad, India, in 1986. He did post-doctoral research at the Indian Institute of Science, India; University of Bordeaux, France; Saint Louis University, USA; and University of Geneva, Switzerland. He then joined the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India, and became Director in 2016. His research interests are comparative genomics of non-coding DNA in the context of evolution of complexity, genetic basis of anterior-posterior body axis formation in animals and role of epigenetic regulation in development. Under his leadership, the Atal Incubation Centre was established at CCMB, which provides life science entrepreneurs the infrastructure and mentorship needed to encourage innovation. CCMB has also played a key role in genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rakesh is an elected fellow of the major science academies in India and a recipient of several honours and awards, including the JC Bose National Fellowship.