Vaccine couple Krishna Ella, Suchitra Ella conferred Padma Bhushan

Hyderabad: Bharat Biotech managing director Krishna Ella and joint managing director Suchitra Ella received the Padma Bhushan on Monday from President Ram Nath Kovind. The couple's Bharat Biotech created Covaxin, India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Krishna Ella is the chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech International Limited, which he incorporated in 1996. A gold medallist at university, Dr. Ella worked as a research faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A research scientist in Molecular Biology, Dr. Ella strongly believes that innovative technology in vaccine development is essential to solve public healthcare problems caused by infectious diseases.

A serial entrepreneur with a passion for innovative ideas, Dr. Ella has also ventured into veterinary vaccines, food processing, and developing biotechnology infrastructure in the country.

Mrs. Suchitra Ella is the joint managing director of Bharat Biotech, which she co-founded with Dr. Ella in 1996. With experience in customer operations, finance, marketing, and business development, Mrs. Ella oversees a wide range of operations in the company.

Mrs. Ella is also the chairperson of CII Indian Women Network. She serves on the boards of ISB Well Wisher's Trust and United Way Hyderabad — an international charity partner focused on social empowerment in local communities with a focus on livelihoods, health, and education. She was a former board member of TTD. Mrs. Ella strongly believes in corporate citizenship and social responsibility. She spearheads the CSR initiatives of the company.