Prof. Chittaranjan Behera is a distinguished Professor of Forensic Medicine and a leading forensic scientist and Faculty In-Charge of the DNA Laboratory, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He has established himself as one of India's foremost experts in forensic medicine, molecular forensic science, forensic genetics, and medico-legal investigations. With extensive experience in handling complex medico-legal cases referred by premier investigative agencies including the CBI, NIA, NHRC, Crime Branch, and the High Courts and Supreme Court of India, he has significantly strengthened forensic science practice and judicial investigations in India.

His research interests encompass forensic genetics, suicide research, forensic epigenetics, molecular autopsy, DNA phenotyping, psychological autopsy, and DNA database development. He has received advanced international training in suicide biomarkers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, psychological autopsy certification from the American Association of Suicidology, USA, DNA fingerprinting, and medical device development through JICA, Japan.

Research Contributions

Prof. Behera is internationally recognized for pioneering research in forensic medicine and suicide science. He developed India's first DNA-based identification platform, the Unidentified Bodies, Missing Persons Identification Portal and DNA Database (UMID), providing an innovative national framework for identifying unidentified bodies and missing persons through molecular and bioinformatics approaches.

He is leading groundbreaking research on genotype-to-geolocation analysis, DNA phenotyping for the Indian population, suicide biomarkers, genome-wide DNA methylation, molecular autopsy, and forensic pathology. He also conceptualized the First Indian Database for the Understanding of Suicide (INDUS), integrating brain biobank resources, tissue repositories, psychological autopsy data, suicide notes, and comprehensive phenotypic information for suicide prevention research.

Prof. Behera coined the term "e-suicide note", and his pioneering work in suicide note analysis has generated important insights into behavioural, psychological, and forensic profiling. His interdisciplinary research combines forensic pathology, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, genomics, and molecular biology, making substantial contributions toward understanding suicide as a multifactorial public health challenge.

Research Funding & Scientific Leadership

Prof. Behera has successfully secured numerous competitive national and international research grants as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator from prestigious funding agencies including:

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), USA (R01 Grant)
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
• AIIMS Intramural Research Programmes
• Department of Health Research (DHR)

His funded projects collectively amount to several crores of rupees and address critical areas including suicide genomics, DNA databases, forensic bioinformatics, molecular autopsy, pediatric genomics, microbiome research, cardiovascular pathology, and precision medicine.

Awards, Fellowships & Professional Recognition

Prof. Behera has received several prestigious honours in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions, including:

• ICMR International Fellowship (USA)
• Fellow of the Indian Congress for Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
• Fellowship from the International Medical Science Academy
• Excellence Award in Forensic Medicine
• Best Paper Awards at national scientific conferences
• Best Editor Award for contributions to forensic scientific publishing
• Multiple International Travel Grants from the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and University Grants Commission (UGC)

He has also received institutional appreciation from AIIMS for his academic and research excellence.

Publications & Academic Contributions

Prof. Behera has authored over 260 peer-reviewed scientific publications in reputed national and international journals covering forensic medicine, molecular biology, forensic genetics, psychiatry, and suicide research.

He is also the co-author of widely used textbooks on Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, contributing significantly to medical education and forensic training in India.

Scientific Impact

Prof. Behera is recognized among the top researchers in Southeast Asia in suicide research publications. His work has advanced forensic DNA technology, suicide biomarker discovery, psychological autopsy methodologies, molecular forensic investigations, and national forensic identification systems. His research has directly influenced forensic practice, public health policy, medico-legal investigations, and suicide prevention strategies.

Eligibility for Outstanding Researcher Award

Prof. Chittaranjan Behera is an exceptionally deserving candidate for the Outstanding Researcher Award – Scientific Laurels based on his remarkable scientific achievements and sustained contributions to forensic medicine and translational research. His pioneering work in molecular forensic science, forensic genetics, suicide biomarker research, and national DNA identification systems has transformed forensic investigations and public health research in India. The development of India's first DNA Database and Identification Portal (UMID), leadership of multiple high-value nationally and internationally funded research projects, authorship of more than 260 scientific publications, and recognition among the leading suicide researchers in Southeast Asia demonstrate his exceptional research excellence. His interdisciplinary innovations, international collaborations, significant research funding, impactful scientific publications, and contributions to forensic education have substantially advanced forensic medicine, molecular diagnostics, and suicide prevention. These outstanding accomplishments make Prof. Chittaranjan Behera highly deserving of the Outstanding Researcher Award – Scientific Laurels in recognition of his global scientific impact and distinguished contributions to research excellence.