Javed Naim Agrewala is a prominent Indian immunologist renowned for his groundbreaking research in infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB), vaccine development, and immunology. 35 Born on May 14, 1961, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, he has made significant contributions to understanding immune responses and developing novel vaccination strategies. 45 His work has earned him prestigious national awards and fellowships in all three major Indian science academies.

Early Life and Education

Agrewala was born and raised in Agra. He completed his early education there, attending St. George’s High School, St. John’s College, Agra College, and S.N. Medical College. 40 He earned his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in 1980 and Master of Science (MSc) in 1982 from Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University (formerly Agra University). 45 He pursued his PhD in immunology at the same university, completing it in 1986 under the affiliation of Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra. 39 47 His doctoral research laid the foundation for his lifelong focus on immunology and infectious diseases.

Career

Agrewala began his professional career in 1989 as a faculty member at the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in Chandigarh, where he rose to the position of Chief Scientist and Professor. 39 47 He held visiting faculty positions at Hammersmith Hospital in London (1994–1996) and the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, USA (2001–2002), which enriched his expertise in immunology. 3 47 In March 2018, he joined the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar as a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Dean of Research. 0 36 He continues to hold affiliations with IMTECH and serves as a Biotechnology Overseas Associate with the Department of Biotechnology. 45 Agrewala is also a member of the American Association of Immunologists and has collaborated internationally, including with Professor David Jackson at the University of Melbourne. 28

Throughout his career, he has mentored numerous PhD students and researchers, contributing to academic events like the DST-INSPIRE Internship Camp in 2024 and the Ramalingaswami Fellowship Conclave. 10 24 His Google Scholar profile reflects over 20,000 citations, underscoring his influence in the field. 2

Research and Contributions

Agrewala’s research primarily focuses on immunology, tuberculosis, vaccine development, drug discovery, and gut microbiota. 37 48 He has made seminal contributions to understanding the bi-directional regulation of Th1 and Th2 cells, which are crucial for immune responses. 41 46 One of his key innovations is a novel vaccination strategy for inducing protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including the development of a chimeric vaccine by linking TB proteins with a unique lipid to target dendritic cells. 7 30 His work extends to drugs repurposed for morphine and heroin dependence, explored through molecular docking and simulations. 5

Agrewala’s group has published in high-impact journals, secured international patents, and developed technologies with practical applications in public health, such as vaccination as a strategy against infectious diseases. 3 47 His efforts have been highlighted in contexts like engineering new vaccines against TB and addressing global health challenges. 27

Awards and Honors

Agrewala’s achievements have been widely recognized:

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Medical Sciences (2005) from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 41 46
• National Bioscience Award for Career Development (2006) from the Department of Biotechnology. 45
• JC Bose Fellowship for his work on novel TB vaccination strategies. 3 47
• UP Science Award. 47
• New Idea Research Talent Award from CSIR. 45
• Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (2004), Indian National Science Academy (2010), and Indian Academy of Sciences (2015). 37 45 48
• Senior Scientist Award from the Indian Immunology Society (2022). 22 23
• Distinction Fellow from the Academy of Microbiological Sciences (2023) for outstanding contributions to microbiology. 18

Agrewala remains an active figure in India’s scientific community, contributing to education, research, and public health initiatives. 10 His email contacts include jagrewala@iitrpr.ac.in and jagrewala@gmail.com for professional inquiries. 48