Guest Lecture
Dr. Kesavan Markkandan, CEO, ONEOMICS Private Limited
Empowering the Next Generation: Industry-Academia Synergy in Biotechnology
Dr. Kesavan Markkandan is a life science entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience spanning personalized Plant Genomics, Cancer Genomics, Point-of-Care Diagnostics, Pharmacogenomics and Gene Therapy. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of ONEOMICS PRIVATE LIMITED, a company pioneering innovations in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and microbiome science. Dr. Kesavan holds a Ph.D. in Crop Science and Biotechnology from Seoul National University, South Korea, and has held key roles in global life science companies and research institutes, including New England Biolabs (Singapore), Theragen Bio (South Korea), and Insilicogen Inc. (South Korea). His international experience combines scientific expertise with entrepreneurial leadership, enabling him to bridge research and market translation effectively. An accomplished researcher with 31 peer-reviewed publications, multiple patents, and several competitive research grants, including BIRAC’s Biotechnology Ignition Grant. Dr. Kesavan has led projects that integrate cutting-edge genomic technologies with practical healthcare applications. Passionate about building industry-academia synergies, he has mentored young scientists and collaborated with hospitals, biotech companies, and academic institutions worldwide. In this guest lecture, he will share his insights on Sustainable Development Goals in Biotechnology, emerging industry trends, and the skills needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving life sciences sector.