Dr. Dheer Singh

Address :

ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (Deemed University), Karnal 132001 India

Phone : +91-184-2252800 / 2259002 (O)

Fax : +91-184-2250042

Brief Biography :

Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, karnal is a distinguished biochemist, academic leader, and visionary administrator. Dr. Singh’s lifelong contributions have profoundly shaped dairy science and agricultural research in India. He earned his M.Sc. in Biochemistry (1988) from Lucknow University and completed his Ph.D. in Dairying (Animal Biochemistry) from the ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, in 1995. Selected as an Agricultural Research Scientist during his doctoral tenure, he joined ICAR–NDRI in 1994 and rose through the ranks of Scientist, Senior Scientist, Principal Scientist, Head of the Department, Joint Director (Research), and currently serves as Director, ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, leading India’s premier dairy research institution with distinction.

Dr. Singh’s research excellence is globally recognized for its strong grounding in fundamental science and its translation into impactful, dairy farmer-centric technologies. His pioneering work in buffalo reproduction, particularly on transcriptional regulation of the CYP19A1 gene encoding aromatase (P450arom), the rate-limiting enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis, has significantly advanced understanding of fertility regulation in dairy animals. Building on this foundation, he developed innovative tools such as salivary fern pattern–based estrus detection, PCR-based diagnostics for Ureaplasma diversum to identify subclinical uterine infections, and a patented peptide-based luteinizing hormone antibody for affordable strip-based nanobiosensors enabling ovulation prediction at dairy farmers’ doorsteps. These contributions directly address reproductive inefficiencies of dairy animals. Another of his recent landmark scientific breakthrough includes the successful production of a myostatin (MSTN) knockout buffalo through CRISPR–Cas9–mediated genome editing coupled with somatic cell nuclear transfer, establishing a new paradigm in precision livestock biotechnology.

Equally pathbreaking are his contributions to milk exosome biology. For the first time in India, his laboratory isolated and characterized milk exosomes and demonstrated their potential as natural delivery vehicles through encapsulation of miRNAs, curcumin, and antibiotics, opening new avenues for nutraceutical and therapeutic applications, thereby enhancing milk value and dairy farmers income.

Dr. Singh’s exceptional scientific contributions for Indian dairy production systems has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards, including Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (FNA, INSA), the National Academy of Sciences (FNASc), and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS). His distinguished career has been further decorated with the BOYSCAST Fellowship (DST, Government of India), AJAS/CAPI Outstanding Research Awards by the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies, and several oration and society awards. He established international collaborations with FBN, Germany and has also served as a visiting scholar/professor at prestigious institutions such as Stanford and Cornell Universities, USA. With more than 110 peer-reviewed publications, 25 funded research projects including international collaborations, and the mentorship of 20 Ph.D. and 23 Master’s students, Dr. Singh exemplifies excellence in research, education, and leadership.

As Director, ICAR-NDRI, Dr. Singh is providing visionary leadership that resulting in historic institutional and scientific milestones, including the creation of India’s first cloned indigenous Gir cow, “Ganga,” witnessed by the Hon’ble President of India on 24 April 2023, and the birth of a gene-edited buffalo calf, setting new benchmarks in livestock biotechnology. Under his stewardship, genomic selection strategies were successfully initiated in Sahiwal cattle, and the Karan Fries cattle breed was formally registered, providing national recognition to one of India’s most important crossbred dairy populations. His tenure further witnessed major advances in sex-sorted semen technology, mastitis therapeutics using milk exosomes, buffalo genome delineation, value-added dairy products, and rapid milk quality diagnostics. Through strategic reforms such as the “One Scientist–One Product” initiative, Technology Readiness Level implementation, project-based budgeting, trademark registration, and enhanced CSR funding, he significantly strengthened research output and translational impact in Indian dairy.

Under his leadership, ICAR–NDRI maintained institute’s legacy and consistently ranked among the top agricultural institutions in India, including 2nd position in NIRF rankings, achieved 100% B.Tech placements, produced a large number of ARS scientists, expanded international consultancy.