Villoo Morawala-Patell

Villoo Morawala-Patell is the founder and current Chairman and Managing Director of an Indian Biotechnology company Avesthagen.[1][2]

Villoo Morawala-Patell
Born (1955-06-18) 18 June 1955
Navsari, India
EducationOsmania University, Bombay University, University of Strasbourg (University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg), University of Ghent.
OccupationChairperson of Avesthagen
AwardsOfficer of the National Order of Merit

Her efforts to create an Indian based intellectual-property driven biotechnology company attracted more than 70 million USD in venture capital before largely collapsing around 2012 with a failed public offering, the exit of senior executives, the shutdown of manufacturing and the cessation of most research activities.[3]

Despite this minor setback, Dr. Villoo Morawalla-Patell has led Avesthagen on numerous research and development initiatives that include The 10,000 Avestagenome Project[4][5] which led to the Sequencing The first complete Zoroastrian-Parsi mitochondrial reference genome and genetic signatures of an endogamous non-smoking population with the hope of identifying disease specific markers in the space of Cancers, Neurodegenerative Diseases and Rare Diseases. Dr. Villoo Morawala-Patell and team also launched Avgen Diagnostics, an integrated personalised testing service with a portfolio of technology to address and identify genetic markers linked to Cancers, Autoimmune conditions, Rare Diseases, Ancestry analysis, unique tests for women's health and fertility testing, carrier screening etc.

Life and education

Morawala-Patell earned a Master of Science degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Mumbai, then a PhD from the Institut de Biologie Moleculaire des Plantes (IBMP-CNRS), University of Strasbourg, France. Prior to obtaining her doctorate, Morawala-Patell worked as a research associate at ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for 10 years. After receiving her PhD, she returned to India, becoming a post-doctoral Rockefeller Fellow at the University of Ghent. Morawala-Patell was next a visiting scientist and Rockefeller Fellow at NCBS-TIFR, and Professor Emeritus at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.

Avesthagen

Morawala-Patell founded Avesthagen Limited in 1998. Over the next two decades, the company was the recipient of more than 70 million USD in venture capital and strategic global funding and grew to become one of India's foremost biotechnology companies with more than 650 employees. The company acquired a large portfolio of patents and intellectual property that it was unable to adequately commercialise leading to revenue crisis around 2012.

Awards
  • 2005
    • The GR8! Women Award for Science & Technology by the Indian Television Academy[6]
  • 2008
  • 2009
    • Karmaveer Puraskar award as a Corporate Citizen for her contribution in the field of agriculture and healthcare in by iCONGO for Citizen Action and Social Justice.[12]
    • Morawala-Patell received the prestigious the Businesswoman of the Year Award 2010 for business excellence at Satya Brahma founded Pharmaleaders 3rd Annual Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit 2010 in Mumbai.[13]

References
  1. "Dr. Villoo Morawala Patell Founder, Chairperson & Managing Director". Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  2. K S Jayaraman (2007). "Profile: Villoo Morawala Patell". Nature Biotechnology. 25 (705): News. doi:10.1038/nbt0707-705. PMID 17621282. S2CID 26782434.
  3. "Avesthagen in a freeze as funds dry up - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  4. Morawala-Patell, Villoo; Pasha, Naseer; Krishnasamy, Kashyap; Mittal, Bharti; Gopalakrishnan, Chellappa; Mugasimangalam, Raja; Sharma, Naveen; Khanna-Gupta, Arati; Bhote-Patell, Perviz; Rao, Sudha; Jain, Renuka (2021). "The first complete Zoroastrian-Parsi mitochondrial reference genome and genetic signatures of an endogamous non-smoking population". Science Direct. Vol. 28. doi:10.1016/j.mgene.2021.100882. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  5. "Avesthagen Limited launches AVGEN Diagnostics, an integrated personalised genetic testing service". Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  6. "Footer". Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  7. "Villoo Patell Bags Top French Award". 9 June 2008.
  8. "Pharma News - Latest Pharma & Pharmaceutical news & updates".
  9. "France honors Dr. Villoo MORAWALA PATELL with Officer of the National Order of Merit".
  10. "Magnum Semiconductor Agrees to Acquire LSI Consumer Products Business | Businessgyan".
  11. http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/other/2008120116161.htm
  12. "Avesthagen founder Dr. Villoo Morawala-Patell wins 'Karmaveer Puraskar'". Business Standard India. 30 November 2009.
  13. "Prestigious Pharma Leadership Awards 2010 Announced | Pharmaleaders TV". pharmaleaders.tv. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
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