T’puram: Beena Pillai, chief scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, took over as new director of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram.Appointments committee of Union cabinet approved her appointment for a five-year term. Pillai succeeds Chandrabhas Narayana, who completed his five-year stint as director in Sept last year.An accomplished scientist in RNA biology and neuronal development and function, Pillai’s lab at CSIR-IGIB studies the role of RNAs in early development, neurogenesis, adult behaviour, disease susceptibility and miRNA markers for human diseases. Born in Kalady, Kerala, she did B.Sc from Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, and an integrated MS-PhD from IISc, Bengaluru, before joining CSIR-IGIB as a young scientist. Her awards include National Bioscience Award, INSA Young Scientist Award and CSIR Young Scientist Award in Biological Sciences.BRIC-RGCB is a national institute under Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council. TNN
