Dr P. Ananda Kumar is currently Director, Institute of Biotechnology, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad and Former Director, National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi. He obtained M.Sc degree in Botany from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. He joined as a Scientist in the Agricultural Research Service of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1978. He obtained Ph.D degree in Plant Physiology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. After working as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in the University of Hannover (1991-92), he moved to Biotechnology Centre, IARI, in 1993. He specializes in the area of transgenic development for insect resistance utilizing the genes encoding insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Dr Kumar developed fruit borer resistant brinjal and tomato, which were licensed to private companies. Dr Kumar published over 150 research articles, books and book chapters. He has three patents on codon-modified and chimeric Bt genes. His other research interests include functional genomics of brinjal, ragi and cotton. Dr Kumar serves as the Secretary of the Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, India and as an Editor, GM Crops and Food.
