Dr. N. Srikanth serves as Deputy Director General (DDG) at the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. He oversees the Council’s technical and administrative functions, guiding national research programs, institutional coordination, and policy integration. A clinician-scholar with decades of experience, Dr. Srikanth has played a pivotal role in advancing evidence-based Ayurvedic research, digital innovation, and the mainstreaming of AYUSH within India’s public health framework.
Deputy Director General (DDG), CCRAS Headquarters
2021 – Present |
📅 Appointed: 2021
👔 Designation: Deputy Director General (Technical & Administrative)
🏛️ Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
🧾 Departments / Functions under charge:
Technical Leadership & Research Coordination –
Overseeing national and regional CCRAS research institutes
Supervising research design, project approval, and monitoring of clinical and pharmacological studies
Leading translation of Ayurvedic knowledge into scientific evidence and policy impact
Administrative Oversight & Institutional Governance –
Managing organizational planning, budgeting, and HR coordination for CCRAS headquarters and institutes
Strengthening inter-institutional coordination with universities, national labs, and AYUSH councils
Overseeing internal vigilance, audit, and resource optimization
Policy & Program Implementation –
Aligning CCRAS programs with the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) and Ayurswasthya Yojana
Facilitating international collaborations through WHO Collaborating Centre (CCRAS HQ)
Supporting CCRAS digital initiatives like e-Charak, Ayush Research Portal, and Clinical Data Repository Systems
🌿 Key Focus Areas:
Institutional modernization and digital integration of CCRAS operations
Evidence-based research for national health priorities
Capacity-building and inter-disciplinary collaboration in Ayurvedic sciences
Technical Head – Public Health & Policy Integration
2016 – 2021 |
📅 Appointed: 2016
🏢 CCRAS, New Delhi (HQ)
👔 Role: Head, Public Health Research & Policy Cell
🧾 Contributions:
Spearheaded integration of Ayurveda into National Health Mission (NHM) and National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS)
Supervised Ayushman Bharat – AYUSH Wellness Centres (HWCs) research component
Developed clinical protocols for Ayurveda-based management of lifestyle disorders
💬 Represented CCRAS at national policy discussions on AYUSH mainstreaming
Senior Research & Technical Leadership
2010 – 2016 |
🏛️ Promoted as Assistant Director / Deputy Director (Technical) at CCRAS Headquarters, New Delhi
🧩 Key Responsibilities:
Coordinated multi-centric clinical research programs on Ayurvedic formulations and therapies
Led documentation and publication of CCRAS outcomes and clinical monographs
Contributed to modernization of research methodologies, including Good Clinical Practice (GCP) in Ayurveda
🌿 Strengthened collaboration between CCRAS and medical research organizations like ICMR, CSIR, and DBT
Research & Clinical Foundation
1998 – 2010 |
🏢 Joined CCRAS as a Research Officer (Ayurveda) and steadily advanced through roles in field research units and regional centers
🩺 Conducted clinical trials and observational studies in Ayurveda for chronic diseases, lifestyle disorders, and preventive healthcare
📚 Published research on the integration of Ayurveda into public health and NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) prevention
🌱 Recognized for bridging traditional Ayurveda principles with contemporary evidence-based approaches
Early Life & Education
📍 Birthplace: Andhra Pradesh, India
🎓 Education:
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) – Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada
Doctor of Medicine (M.D. Ayurveda – Kayachikitsa) – Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar
Ph.D. (Ayurveda – Integrative Medicine) – Gujarat Ayurved University
Diploma in Clinical Research Management and Health Policy
🏛️ A highly respected Ayurvedic physician, researcher, and administrator with vast experience in the design and implementation of national-level Ayurveda research and health programs.