Biotechnological innovations have grown steadily in the past ten years. As per UN, women accounted for one in three (33%) researchers in 2018. They have achieved gender parity (in numbers) in life sciences in many countries and even dominate this field in some cases. Indian com­panies are leading the trend with research and development in the field of personalized healthcare using frontier technologies. Strand Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. is primarily a genomics-based re­search and diagnostics company, developing robust and sophisti­cated bioinformatics, software, lab assay and diagnostic solutions for global pharmaceutical industries, leading research laborato­ries and delivering better healthcare to society.

Dr. Pallavi Ghana, Director Project Management at Strand Life Sciences. (popularly known as Strand), is a leading member of the company that is dedicated providing state-of-the art and cutting-edge healthcare solutions. With a Ph.D. in molecular biology from CCMB Hyderabad and a masters in Life Sciences from Sambalpur University she is an IIM Calcutta alumnus having a rich background in scientific research and management. Women Entrepreneur magazine recently engaged in one on one interaction with Pallavi. Here’s the highlight from the same.

Give us a brief overview of Strand Life Science. Tell us about the underlying idea behind the firm and its most unique features?

Strand is primarily a genomics-based research and diagnostics company that aims to improve global health by decoding the genetic information contained in an individual’s genome. The company was founded by four Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore professors in 2000, as a pioneering example of academic entrepreneurship. We are India’s first CAP and NABL accredited laboratory and our technology platforms offer comprehensive genomics services to the scientific community, pharma companies and healthcare partners. Strand strongly believes in the motto that every patient is unique, every data point is precious and every decision we make based on these data is crucial. It is a datacentric company that has revolutionized healthcare in India by reducing trial and error through its innovative laboratory tests and various technologies and platform solutions. Strand is trusted by the world's best, making its name not only in India but globally for its innovative solutions and focus on the quality of work it delivers.

Take us through your early educational jour­ney and prior industry experience that you bring to the table & your expertise as a busi­ness leader.

With a background in science and business administration, I have a doctoral degree from the premier Indian institute of global repute, Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Hyderabad and have completed my management course at IIM Calcutta. Prior to working at Strand, I was leading a team at DuPont India, that was able to successfully establish a proof-of-concept platform for genomeediting assisted crop improvement, with pioneering use of CRISPR-Cas technology and in developing world’s best gene discovery platform for plants. My background in science and business administration brings a unique business perspective to scientific research that ensures focused and disciplined approach for R&D activities to bring its benefit to the society. My management insights ensure that the benefit of scientific research reaches people well in time as I believe that benefit delayed is benefit denied; if delayed the benefit from scientific research loses its deserving impact.

Throw some light on your roles and responsi­bilities and what are some of the most press­ing business challenges you face in your current position, and how do you mitigate these challenges?

I head the project management, administrative & human resource management activities in the company. Exposure to running the business from different perspectives, gives me a holistic view that helps in improving productivity and efficiency, the key pillars for a successful and sustainable business.

The primary focus area is to set up efficient processes by envisioning & identifying gaps in a timely manner. Resolving issues and finding innovative ways to face new challenges to help a smooth run, is part of my daily work routine. I try to achieve this by breaking the issues into smaller resolvable and achievable tasks. An insurmountable problem when broken into smaller tasks, helps to resolve them faster. This is possible with the strength of teamwork that harnesses each members' limitless capabilities and banks on the synergistic effect and complementarity of the team together. Having an eye on the big picture, meticulous planning, proper time management, organized documentation and unwavering emphasis on quality are key to gain client faith and growth.

What are some of the most significant mile­stones you have achieved in your profes­sional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as a business leader?

Coming from an academic scientific research background; transitioning from a technical role to a business role has been a significant milestone in my journey so far. Looking back, I feel satisfied building industry-leading super-efficient teams ground up, delivering technically challenging projects with out-of-the-box yet simple solutions. I believe the power of great ideas bolstered with aligned team efforts has limitless possibilities and holds immense promise in benefiting the society; this always fascinates and inspires me to push the boundary.

“Believe in yourself, learn from setbacks & failures & don’t be afraid to take untraversed paths. The key is to enjoy the journey”

How do you foresee modern Indian science evolving in the near future? What steps do you take to keep yourself aligned with these evolutions?

Indian science is currently standing at the cusp of a new era with great promise. It is moving towards a more data-driven exploration in the field of health science and personalized medicine. I keep up with the changes by following up publications, research articles, reports, reviews, attending webinars and following discussions in the public fora.

Dr. Pallavi Ghana, Director-Project Management, Strand Life Sciences

An experienced scientific strategist in the Life Sciences space with expertise in innovation, implementation, and improvement; Pallavi has strong faith that only successful implementation of great ideas can realize their true potential and reap benefits for all.