This fellowship honors the memory of Padma Bhushan Prof. Maharaj Kishan Bhan, a distinguished pediatrician, esteemed scientist, and former Secretary of DBT and Chairperson of BIRAC, Government of India. Prof. Bhan made significant contributions to Indian public health and revolutionized the biotechnology landscape in the country. His notable achievement includes the development of the indigenous Rotavirus vaccine, which has saved the lives of millions of children in India and worldwide. Prof. Bhan initiated various initiatives to promote research, collaboration, and implementation capacity building in India. He believed in investing in biomedical research and innovation to achieve excellence and leadership in science. Prof. Bhan also dedicated himself to nurturing the next generation of researchers and leaders in the science community of India, aiming to improve public health in the country. To honor Prof. Bhan's legacy and further his goals, Prof. M. K. Bhan Mid-Career Fellowship Program has been instituted by Grand Challenges India (GCI) partners and implemented by GCI at BIRAC.
Aim of the Fellowship:
i) Identifying and supporting outstanding emerging scientific leaders in India to address the country’s most pressing health and development challenges.
ii) Providing opportunities for mid-career researchers to become independent investigators.