Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 27: Dr K. Thangaraj, a renowned geneticist, who was honoured with a Padma Shri for the year 2026, today delivered a lecture today on Human origin, including various genetic aspects related to health as ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Sri Vijaya Puram. During the talk he touched upon the work carried out on the Negrito tribes of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Dr K. Thangaraj is best known for his pioneering research on the genetic diversity of Indian populations, particularly his work on tribal and indigenous communities. Through decades of dedicated research at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Dr. Thangaraj has significantly advanced the understanding of population genetics, disease susceptibility, and human evolution in India.
The Padma Shri award acknowledges his impactful scientific work and his role in placing Indian genetic research on the global map. Dr Thangaraj was felicitated by the Centre (ICMR-RMRC) and the experts arrived from various parts of the country for the upcoming Brain Storming Meeting on Sickle Cell Disease to be held at ICMR-RMRC on 28-29 January 2026.