Professor Alok Dhawan is currently Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow. He also served as Founding Director, Institute of Life Sciences, and Dean, Planning and Development, Ahmedabad University, Gujarat. He obtained his Ph.D. Degree in Biochemistry from University of Lucknow, India in 1991. He has been awarded D.Sc. Degree (h.c.) from University of Bradford, U.K., 2017. He was a Visiting Scholar, Michigan State University, USA; BOYSCAST Fellow, University of Surrey, Wales & Bradford, UK and Visiting Scientist, BIBRA Toxicology International, Surrey, UK.
Professor Dhawan started the area of nanomaterial toxicology in India and published a guidance document on the safe use of nanomaterials. His group elucidated the mechanism of toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles in human and bacterial cells. His work has been widely cited. He set up a state-of-the-art nanomaterial toxicology facility at CSIR-IITR as well as at the Institute of Life Sciences. He has also made significant contributions in the area of genetic toxicology.
Professor Dhawan has won several honours and awards including the INSA Young Scientist Medal in 1994, CSIR Young Scientist Award in 1999, the Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize of ICMR in 2002 and the Vigyan Ratna by the Council of Science and Technology, UP in 2011.
His work in the area of nanomaterial toxicology has won him international accolades as well and he was awarded two Indo-UK projects under the prestigious UK-IERI programme. He was also awarded two European Union Projects under the FP7 and New INDIGO programmes.
recognition of his work he has been elected Fellow, The National Academy of Sciences, India; Fellow, The Academy of Toxicological Sciences, USA; Fellow, The Academy of Environmental Biology; Fellow, Academy of Science for Animal Welfare; Fellow—Society of Toxicology (India), Founder Fellow, Indian Nanoscience Society; Fellow, Gujarat Science Academy; Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow, National Academy of Medical Sciences (2017), President, Society of Toxicology (STOX), India (2018-2020), Vice President—Environmental Mutagen Society of India (2006–07); Member—National Academy of Medical Sciences; Member, United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society, U.K.; Member, Asian Association of Environmental Mutagen Societies, Japan.
He has to his credit over 160 publications in peer reviewed national/international journals, 20 reviews/book chapters, four patents, two copyrights and has edited seven books.
He is the Editor-In-Chief, Journal Translational Toxicology published by American Scientific Publishers, USA and serves as the Member, Editorial Board of Chemical Research Toxicology, Mutagenesis, Nanotoxicology, Mutation Research Reviews, and other journals of repute.