Avadhesha Surolia

Biography

 Avadhesha Surolia  is a Glycobiologist at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Presently, he is an Honorary Professor at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), IISc and holds the Bhatnagar fellowship of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India. He is known for his work on lectin structure and interactions, orientation and dynamics of cell surface carbohydrate receptors and protein folding, diabetes, anti-malarials and anti-cancer agents based on curcumin, flavonoids, etc. In addition, neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative disorders and the link between immunity and obsessive compulsive disorder are areas of his current interest.  Surolia obtained his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Biology from University of Jodhpur, in 1970. He earned his master's degree in Biochemistry from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda in 1972. He completed his Ph.D under the guidance of Prof. B. K. Bachhawat from Madras University in 1976. In 1978 he was awarded a D.Sc degree by Madras University. After his doctoral studies he joined Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Calcutta, India as a scientist in 1977 till 1981. He further held the position of Assistant Professor at IICB till 1986 after which he joined Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) at IISc as an Associate Professor (1986-1991). He was Professor at MBU, IISc from 1991 to 2013 and served as its Chairman from 2000 to 2006. From 2006 to 2011 he held the Directorship of India’s prestigious research institute, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. During his tenure NII was recognized by Thomson Reuters Innovation Award in 2010 as the most innovative research institute nationally. He holds Honorary Professorship at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, India.  In recognition of his contributions to medicine and science he was conferred an Honorary D.Sc degree in 2013 by Queen’s University, Belfast, UK.

Research Interest

 neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative disorders and the link between immunity and obsessive compulsive disorder are areas of his current interest