Dr. Anita Chugh

Co-Founder & CSO, Thrafford Lifescience

Organizational Growth & Program Leadership: At Ranbaxy, Advinus, and Syngene, I played a central role in establishing and scaling innovations into globally recognized products, platforms and services. These responsibilities demanded not only scientific vision but also the design of programs, systems, and policies that delivered sustainable growth. At Syngene, I led a division of over 180 scientists, achieving nearly five-fold growth in revenues while embedding performance metrics and global best practices.

Advancing Research & Translational Impact: I have led and contributed to the advancement of 50+ therapeutic candidates from bench to clinic, including seven that progressed to clinical-stage development, spanning oncology, diabetology, cardiovascular disease, CNS, inflammation, and cell & gene therapy. Beyond research execution, I have contributed to in-licensing and out-licensing initiatives/technologies, authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications, and hold 43 published patents (3 granted).

Global Collaborations, Compliance & Regulatory Alignment: Throughout my career, I have initiated and managed international collaborative projects requiring alignment with diverse stakeholders across academia, industry, regulators, and government agencies. At Intox and Advinus, I led projects through international audits, client-driven quality assurance frameworks, and regulatory submissions, ensuring compliance with both national and global standards.

Capacity Building, Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A hallmark of my journey has been team building and mentoring. I have trained Ph.Ds, Postdocs, MBBS, MDs, and M.Pharm graduates—many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia and industry. As Faculty at UNESCO–RCB’s Industrial Biotechnology program and as an invited speaker at national and international forums, I have actively contributed to bridging academia and industry.

Business Leadership & Resource Management: I have held P&L responsibility, driving business unit growth, grant funding, and resource allocation. My leadership has included board-level engagement, where I aligned organizational priorities with long-term strategy. This blend of scientific leadership and business acumen ensures that programs I lead are innovative, scalable, and sustainable—a key requirement for ANRF’s large-scale national missions.

Policy Engagement & National Committees: I have been privileged to serve on expert committees of national importance, including:
– Advisory Committee for Advanced Industrial Training (UNESCO-RCB, DBT)
– ICMR Delphi Panel on Phase 1 Clinical Trials
– Editorial and reviewer roles for international journals