The Founder CRIA · Est. 2009

Dr. Narendra
Bhatt.

Over 52+ years of acquired, assimilated and enriched knowledge in Ayurveda research and industry; a rare combination of academic, research, industrial and consulting leadership.

52+
Years
Ayurveda Knowledge, Experience and Feel Informing Research, Industry and Consulting
Industry
Emphasis
Ayurveda Business, Product Strategy, Research and Innovation Guidance
6
Domains
Integrated Offerings, from Ayurveda Strategy to Validation
100+
Publications + Studies
Publications, Studies, Patents and Book Chapters
Professional Dimensions

A four-dimensional domain.

A rare confluence of clinical knowledge and depth, translational research, industrial leadership and policy foresight : applied to accelerate Ayurveda business, growth and development.

01 · CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE & DEPTH

Ayurveda Physician

4th Generation clinician with extensive clinical experience, carrying a humane approach and representing exclusive Ayurvedic practice adapted to modern healthcare needs.

02 · TRANSLATIONAL R&D

Ayurvedic Researcher

A pioneer in integrative and translational research, conceptualizing methodologies that validate authentic Ayurvedic principles through rigorous contemporary scientific models.

03 · INDUSTRIAL BLUEPRINT

Business Strategist

A corporate manager who integrates gut-feel with successful product strategies. He pioneered applied Ayurvedic logic and a scientific objective approach for industrial and commercial success across pharma sectors, maintaining a firm belief in privatization for sector-wide growth.

04 · POLICY & VISION

Policy & Academia influencer

With wide experience, international exposure and critical observations, articulating strategic views to address academic standards, professional efficiency to attend to present day biomedical challenges.

Corporate Chronology

Efforts driven to leadership.

Strategic advisory across the most consequential houses for Ayurveda products, combined with original research, corporate leadership for the best business and financial performance, continued strategic advisory roles and consultancy services for Ayurveda business and industry.

Beginning as Honorary Advisory Role Full-Time Positions Consultancy Services continuing now
2009 : PresentCRIA
CRIA Consultants Pvt. Ltd. : Founder & Principal

The Ayurveda business and product strategy consultancy.

Founder Govt. of India · IMPCL Benefyt (EU) HERBALIFE

Founded CRIA to share 52+ years of operating and research experience with industry, institutes and investors. Strategy, products, validation, alliances and IT : under one synergistic practice.

Mandates Attained / Accomplished
Selected engagements include IMPCL business plan for the Government of India; technical advisor to Benefyt (EU); long-form mandates with HERBALIFE International India (2019–22), HOLISAN (NL) and PADMA AG (Switzerland).
2007 : 2008Kerala Ayurveda
Kerala Ayurveda Ltd. : Director, Business Development & Corporate Affairs

Corporate management of Ayurveda based health care services and products.

Strategy Retail healthcare Training

Corporate management of comprehensive health care based on Ayurveda products, profession, hospital and clinics chain, customized training and IT adoption.

2003 : 2007Zandu, Phase II
Zandu Pharmaceutical Works : Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The best growth performance in a decade.

CEO MANTHAN deployed SAP & BSC Bhishag division

As an Ayurvedic physician becoming CEO, demonstrated gut management, out-of-box thinking and research-led innovation in management. Delivered the best growth performance in more than a decade and the best financial ratios for two consecutive years in the 88-year history of Zandu.

Operating record
Implemented MANTHAN, Balanced Scorecard and SAP for efficiency, performance and quality. Field-tested MANTHAN with parametric norms applied to media, advertising and consumer communication, and launched Bhishag as a dedicated division to enhance business with the Ayurvedic profession.
1998 : 2003BIOVED USA
BIOVED Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (USA) : President · Executive Director

R&D as an independent business.

R&D as a business Disease-specific Global mandate

Developed 'R&D' as an independent business concept for the first time in the field of Ayurveda : designed to cater to disease- and product-specific needs of global importance.

1997 : 1998Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd.
Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd. : Director (Strategy, Planning & Research)

Corporate strategy: redefining, restructuring and planning.

Led strategy, planning and research responsibilities for corporate restructuring and long-term developmental frameworks.

1993 : 2007Ajanta Pharma
Ajanta Pharma Ltd. : Vice President, Ayurveda R&D · Head, CPD

Integrative research at industrial scale.

VP · R&D Head · CPD Integrative research

Established the first Ayurveda R&D within the modern pharma industry in record time with efficient systems. Took on the Consumer Products Division challenge, delivered objectives on time, and addressed field, budget and consumer-communication issues despite not having prior training in that role.

A term he coined
In 1998, the first person to use the phrase 'Corporatization of Ayurveda' : articulating the role of industry for enhanced sector growth.
1987 : 1993Zandu, Phase I
Zandu Pharmaceutical Works

Research Executive · Medical Director.

55 clinical studies RA / OA / Liver / UTI OTC trials Patent (Parkinson's)

Coordinated 55 clinical studies on Ayurvedic products at academic hospitals across India.

A first in Ayurveda
Pioneered unique clinical research designs for Ayurvedic pharma products including the first-ever double-blind active-control study on an Ayurvedic product, compared with Auranofin for disease-modifying activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis : where absorption of metallic gold was demonstrated for the first time. Indian patent (jointly held) for treatment of Parkinson's disease.
1980 : 1987Beginnings
Ranbaxy, Zandu, Richardson Hindustan, Hoechst (Hon. Advisor)

Initiator of Integrative Research Modalities For Ayurveda.

Hon. Advisor QC & research

Honorary Advisor with Ranbaxy, Zandu, RHL (now P&G) and Hoechst Germany : Supporting Prescription Markets through Medical Services, Clinical Research, QC and Product Positioning.

First in sector
As consultant to Richardson Hindustan (now P&G), and later to Hoechst Germany, used computers for the first time in the Ayurvedic sector to compile and correlate data on formulations and ingredients to design new products for specific illnesses.
HONORS - National and International

Honors and Service to the sector

Recognition to sector contributions and government and academic committees and international orations.

National & International Honors

  • 2026 Annasaheb Patwardhan Vaidyakiya Puraskar: Vaidya Khadiwale Ayurvedic Research Institute, Pune, for significant contributions to society in Ayurveda.
  • 2006 Prof. A. L. Basham Award: By IASTAM at ICTAM VI, Texas, USA for international contribution. (First Indian recipient)
  • 2017 Vaidya Sundarlal Joshi Smriti Puraskar: Awarded at J. S. Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Nadiad, Gujarat for Excellence in Research.
  • 2002 Honoured Senior Physician: By Union Minister of HR & S&T at All India Ayurvedic Congress centenary celebrations (Kottakal).
  • 2001 Ayurveda Scholar of the Year: By Shree Gyan Kalyan Datavya Nyas, Delhi, in memory of Late Vaidya Bhuvan Chandra Joshi.
  • 2000 Pandit Durgaprasad Sharma Award: Instituted by Shree Baidyanath Bhavan Ltd., Patna for Professional Excellence.
  • 1995 Bharat Bhishak Ratna: Awarded by Academy of Ayurveda, Madras, at the hands of Shri R. Venkataraman, former President of India.

Government Bodies & Committees

  • 2007–10Governing Body, Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Siddha [CCRAS]
  • 2006–11Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Committee (APC), Dept. of AYUSH, Ministry of Health
  • 2001–03 / 2007–10Scientific Advisory Committee, CCRAS
  • 2002Working Group for Research in Dept. of ISM & H, Delhi
  • 1998Sub-Committee, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Committee [APC], Dept. ISM, Ministry of Health
  • Member, Board of Bioresource Development, Department of Biotechnology

Affiliations & Committees

  • 2023 onwardsAIC-LMCP Foundation: Mentor to advise incubates in the field of AYUSH as needed.
  • 2013–23ASCI: Technical Expert and Member, Consumers Complaints Committee [CCC].
  • 1997–03Scientific Committee: Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association [IDMA].
  • 1997–01 / 2003Chairman, Legal & Technical Committee, ADMA; Ayurvedic Sub-Committee, CHEMEXCIL.
  • 2001Dept. of Biotechnology project on Bio Prospecting of Biological Wealth using Biotechnological Tools; Technical Committee, Adverse Drug Reaction, Seth G.S. Medical College & K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai.

International Orations & keynotes

  • 2017Presidential Scholar Invitee, Fayerweather, Columbia University : Research Modalities and Integrative Oncology
  • 2006Prof. A. L. Basham Oration : ICTAM VI, Texas, USA
  • 20023rd Monroe Wall Symposium Oration : 43rd Annual Meeting, American Society of Pharmacognosy, NJ, USA
  • 2001World Economic Forum, Indian Economic Summit : Ayurveda, Health-Care Potentials, Export Promotion
  • 2017Tomorrow's India Global Summit : Medicine, Science & Technology
Engagements & Publications

National and global influence.

Serving as a key voice in national policy submissions, representing the country in high-profile delegations, shaping industry symposia, and contributing foundational chapters to global texts.

International Delegations (Govt. of India)

  • 2005 Tanzania & World Bank: Joint delegation representing CSIR and the Government of India for the Indigenous Knowledge Pilot Project with GRA and World Bank.
  • 2004 World Health Assembly: Official delegate from the Dept. of ISM&H, Ministry of Health on global traditional medicine policies in Geneva.
  • 2003 EU Directives: Delegated to London (UK), Hague (EU), and Rome (Italy) to address regulatory challenges regarding traditional herbal medicines.
  • 2001 House of Lords (UK): Presented scientific foundations of Ayurveda to the House of Lords Select Committee on Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
  • 1998 Integrated Marketing Program: Led Indian delegation to the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands to evaluate market potential, sponsored by CFTC & Ministry of Commerce.

Distinguished Guest Appearances

  • 2010 Labdhi Vikram Sansthan: Inaugurated Ayurvedic Chikitsalaya at Durg, Chhattisgarh.
  • 2007 AICTE Quality Improvement: Inaugurated national workshop on drug standardization at Poona College of Pharmacy.
  • 2006 Regional Research Lab: Chief Guest for Technology Transfer symposium under Ministry of S&T (Jammu).
  • 2004 FIHI Office Launch: Chief Guest for inauguration of the Federation of Indian Herbal Industry head office in Chennai.

Textbooks & Chapters Contributed

  • IASTAM Textbook Editor-in-Chief

    "Integrative Perspectives: Ayurveda, Phyto-Pharmaceuticals & Natural Products": Edited a comprehensive, highly cited text with 9 core sections and 41 chapters.

  • Springer Science (2010) Oncological R&D

    Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Cancer Care in India: Contributed clinical perspectives on oncology, edited by Mouley Alaoui-Jamali.

  • Arya Vaidya Sala (2005) Universal Healthcare

    Ayurveda : A Case for Universal Application: Contributed to the commemorative volume of Dr. P. K. Warrier, detailing strategic structural retail and healthcare delivery.

  • NIMH/NIMHANS (1996) Mental Health

    Traditional Medicine and Mental Health: Authored standard Ayurvedic understanding for Indo-US proceedings published by NIMH (Bethesda).

Parliamentary Submissions

  • 2007 Invitee Submission: Submitted authoritative recommendations on the 'B. Pharm. Ayurveda Course' to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
  • 2006 Indian Medicine Bill: Invited expert presentation on 'The Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Bill' addressing regulatory reforms.

Industry Activities & Sector Forums

  • ADMA Secretary General & Chairman: Deployed the first ever national-scale symposia under ADMA to align policy, industry challenges, and strategic vision: Delhi 1998 ("Challenges of Today & Tomorrow"), 2003 ("Problems, Potentials, Possibilities"), and 2005 ("Agenda 2010").
  • AyuTech Strategic Advisor to UBM: Guided UBM to establish the AyuTech platform, bringing pioneers together to formulate practical edible Ayurvedic and herbal strategies.
  • GAAMA Industry Workshop: Led strategic frameworks addressing determinant factors, quality, and regulatory compliance.
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Bring 52+ years
to your next mandate.

CRIA solutions are proposed after a critical study of organizational needs, potentials, resources and growth barriers. Each engagement is customized, not templated.

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Let's discuss synergy.

Meaningful understanding of specific needs of the sector and a realistic perception of business dimension are vital to create opportunities for better returns in newer markets. Whether you are an established industry player seeking to pivot, a start-up formulating strategy, or an institute improving research outcomes : CRIA offers customized consulting designed to help you achieve desirable, sustainable growth.

Head Office
15, Bachubai Bldg.,
J. Bhatankar Marg, Parel,
Mumbai 400012, India
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