The Ministry of Science and Technology, government of Uttar Pradesh, has honoured Dr JS Yadav, director- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, with the Vigyan Gaurav Samman Award for the year 2003-2004. Surendra Singh Patel, minister for science & technology, gave the award.

The award was given to Dr Yadav in recognition of his scientific contribution to human resource development, an official release said. He has to his credit 385 scientific publications and 47 patents. Dr Yadav has been elevated to the position of director of IICT in October 2003.

He joined IICT in 1986. He was elevated as the head of the department of organic division at IICT in 1989, and under his leadership, the division produced excellent research outputs covering synthetic organic chemistry, natural products, molecular modeling and combinatorial chemistry for drug discovery programmes.

Dr Yadav's research group has successfully developed cost effective technologies for specialty chemicals like Ditiazem, Ondasetron, Pyrazinamide, Ketotifen, Mefloqauin, Tamoxifen etc, which was well received by both Indian and overseas drug companies. The global majors like Ranbaxy, Dabur, Dupont and SmithKline Beecham have entered into medium term contract agreements with Dr Yadav's research team.

He has received several academic and industrial awards in the past.