Dr. Neeraj Mahindroo is a medicinal chemist with an experience of over 27 years in academics and research. He is an alumnus of the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh. He has secured research grants and fellowships through national and international competitive evaluation processes and is a recipient of the National Health Research Institutes Postdoctoral Fellowship and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Postdoctoral Fellowship. Academic Administration: Experience building new institutions from the first brick and rebuilding research and academic excellence in existing institutions. Developing short-term and long-term strategic plans, designing academic and institutional policies and processes, team building, infrastructure design and utilization, market research, benchmarking, alignment with regulatory and statutory requirements (UGC, Councils, National Education Policy), institutional budgeting, introduction of new programs, design of curriculum, industry and academic connect, documentation, active member of statutory academic bodies (Board of Studies, Academic Council, Board of Management), academic accreditations (NAAC, NBA), rankings (NIRF, THE, QS). • Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune - Improvement of NIRF ranking in the Pharmacy discipline by 22 ranks to 72 in 2024 from 94 in 2023. Introduction of M. Tech Medical Devices in collaboration with industry partners like Boston Scientific. Academic Leadership Award for driving the school with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration in August 2024. • UPES, Dehradun – Founder Dean, NAAC, PCI approval, Introduction of new UG and PG programs in the School of Health Sciences and Technology, including Pharmacy, Clinical Research, Nutrition & Dietetics, Microbiology, Health Informatics, Healthcare Management, B. Tech programs in Biotechnology, Food Technology, and Biomedical Engineering (in collaboration with GE Healthcare) • Shoolini University – NIRF Pharmacy Ranking in the top 40 from 2016-2019, NAAC accreditation, University NIRF rankings, member of various university statutory bodies, represented the university on different forums, including discussions with the government, funding agencies, industry partners and associations, and international partners. • Jaypee University of Information Technology – Introduced three M. Pharmacy programs. Research Administration: • Steered the research policy and productivity of Shoolini University as the Dean (Research & Development), now ranked among the top research universities of India in THE, QS, and NIRF. Formulated the research policy, Member Secretary of the Joint Research and Development Committee of the University. represented the university on different forums, including discussions with the government, funding agencies, industry partners and associations, and international partners. Accreditations and Inspections: • Chairperson/Member Coordinator/Member of peer teams for NAAC and NBA accreditation of Academic Institutions. • Experience in PCI and AICTE fillings and facing inspections. Member of University Committees: • Academic Council, Board of Management, Board of Studies, Grievance Committees, Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, Institutional Ethics Committee, etc. Research Experience and Guidance: • Medicinal chemist with experience of over 27 years, a recipient of the National Health Research Institutes Postdoctoral Fellowship and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Postdoctoral Fellowship. Research interest in drug discovery for neglected diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer. Successfully guided 7 Ph.D. and 11 M. Pharm students. Published over 54 peer-reviewed papers with more than 2250 citations (h index = 25), eight granted patents, and nine patent applications. Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. Research funding from ICMR, DBT, DRDO, HP Biodiversity Board, Shoolini University, and UPES. Member CII National Committee on R&D & Innovation 2020-21, part of the Sub-group on Healthcare & Chemicals. Teaching: • Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Research Methodology and Ethics.