25th February 2022 – Trust isn’t just assumed in the life sciences; it’s built, tested, and validated. That professional approach has shaped Dr. Pranesh Sujaymeendra Davangere Srinivas’s journey from raising fruit flies in a makeshift lab to leading global teams through regulatory audits and software validation.
What sets him apart isn’t just the range of roles; each move was driven by the professional approach that sound systems don’t just survive pressure; they help people do their best work.
In Life Science, Pharmaceuticals and Clinical Research Organizations, quality assurance isn’t just about compliance but protecting patients. QA (quality assurance) specialists help prevent errors, ensure product efficacy, and uphold data integrity. Their work is essential to maintaining safety in every stage of the life sciences pipeline. Mr. Srinivas is one of such talented specialists who exemplify the critical role of QA professionals in safeguarding patient health and ensuring the highest standards in Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Pharmaceuticals.
A Lab Built from Scratch and a Career That Followed
Before the certifications and software came the fruit flies.
From 2010 to 2014, as a Project Fellow at Bangalore University, Dr. Pranesh led a biodiversity study focused on Drosophila, a tiny organism with significant implications. But the science couldn’t begin until the infrastructure did.
He sourced every piece of equipment from microscopes with mounted cameras to agar and chloroform, often through complex university channels. The lab didn’t just exist; he built it. He remembers storing samples in repurposed containers, sourcing chemicals secondhand, and relying on borrowed tools to keep the project moving.
“Those first months weren’t about data; they were about setup. Incubators had to work, reagents had to be clean, and if anything failed, everything else did too.”
This is where his quality-first mindset was born. He wasn’t just running experiments but designing a repeatable system that others could rely on. That foundation led to a PhD, several peer-reviewed articles, and something more profound: a belief that infrastructure is insight.Current Technologies and guidance emphasize on Quality by design (QbD), that was implemented by Dr. Pranesh during his research.
The Auditor Who Changed the Game at Scale
By 2007, at Advinus Therapeutics—a CRO (contract research organization) focused on drug development—Dr. Pranesh was already applying his forward-thinking approach to the industry, well before data integrity and digital SOPs (standard operating procedures managed through electronic systems) became standard topics of discussion.
As a Research Scientist he conducted more than 500 GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) audits a year across toxicology and microbiology studies. But for him, compliance wasn’t a checkbox; it was culture.
Under his leadership:
- Standard Operating Procedures were digitized, cutting audit prep time by 30%.
- A new quality management system has reduced non-compliance issues by 25%.
- The team earned GLP accreditations from Germany and the Netherlands, building global trust through practical reforms.
“Auditing shouldn’t feel like a spotlight; it should feel like support. My job wasn’t to find mistakes. It was to help teams build systems where consistency came naturally.”
By focusing on “what’s working,” audits became opportunities, not interrogations. That shift still resonates in CRO and biotech circles.
Turning Compliance Into Collaboration
At Jubilant Biosys (2013–2014), a discovery-driven contract research organization serving global pharma clients, the stakes were different. Teams were innovative and trained in Good Laboratory Practice audits to prepare for impending inspections.
Rather than panic, he built from the ground up, designing training programs, differentiating internal vs. client-facing workflows, and aligning everyone to one north star: trust through transparency.
The result? Successful NGCMA GLP certification in 2014. More importantly, the team understood why quality mattered.
Pivoting into Market Strategy and Learning to Tell the Story
You wouldn’t expect a QA leader to dive into market analysis. But that’s precisely what Dr. Pranesh did at IQ4I Research & Consultancy.
In 2014, he pivoted to a role in market intelligence, where he studied forecasting, competitive analysis, and regulatory trends. The challenge: turning technical depth into business insight.
He succeeded using habits from his lab days:
- Paying attention to detail
- Seeing patterns others missed
- And above all, telling stories that mattered to decision-makers
“I realized data only works if people understand what to do with it. Strategy isn’t just facts, it’s framing.”
Building Bridges Between Code, Quality, and Compliance
The transition into digital health wasn’t accidental; by the time Dr. Pranesh joined Indegene in 2016, it was inevitable.
From Indegene to GalaxE, he bridged operations and IT, guiding teams through ISO 9001, CMMI Level 3, and complex software validation workflows.
At PointCross LifeSciences, as Head of Software QA, he led efforts to:
- Sustain ISO 27001:2013 (information security) and ISO 9001:2015 (quality)
- Align software validation with DevOps cycles and various frameworks such as agile-scrum, waterfall, verification and validation model
- Monitor risk, not just react to it
One standout moment was unifying SLC with regulations schedules so validation became a shared checkpoint.
“Software doesn’t live in a vacuum. It connects labs, teams, and customers. QA has to be baked into how we build, not just how we review.”
His background in lab audits gave him an edge: he understood what regulators looked for, even in digital ecosystems.
Toward Self-Evolving Quality Systems
As of early 2022, Dr. Pranesh is focused on the next frontier: smart, adaptive quality frameworks powered by AI, digital twins, and real-time data streams.
His questions might feel radical for professionals used to checklists and static protocols. But they’re rooted in a practical vision of what quality could be.
He’s not chasing trends, he’s asking the hard questions:
- Can compliance systems diagnose themselves?
- How do we safeguard data integrity in a world of continuous deployment?
- What does GLP look like in a cloud-native world?
“I’m not trying to automate humans out of the loop. I’m building systems that make their work more meaningful.”
Lessons for the Next Generation of Life Sciences Leaders
Whether you’re managing a lab, leading a QA team, or launching a digital health product, Dr. Pranesh’s career offers powerful lessons:
- Start with systems: From a Drosophila lab to a SaaS platform, quality starts with setup.
- Bridge disciplines: Great leaders translate between research, regulation, and technology.
- Center the user: The best frameworks don’t just pass audits, they help people do better work.
He’s reshaping how life sciences define quality in a world that moves faster than policy.
“True leadership in quality isn’t about control. It’s about clarity and giving others the confidence to do great work.”
Want to keep learning from the people shaping the future of quality?
Follow more real-world leaders redefining regulatory science, digital compliance, and intelligent operations in our Leadership in Life Sciences series. We go beyond titles to uncover how innovators like Dr. Pranesh Srinivas think, adapt, and lead.
Explore interviews on AI-enabled QA, adaptive audits, data integrity at scale, and firsthand stories from professionals turning complex systems into high-trust, high-impact frameworks. Because the next wave of quality leadership isn’t about following rules—it’s about reimagining them.
Dr. Pranesh Srinivas stands out as a distinguished expert in quality assurance. His work is grounded in his advanced scholarly background and a proven, systems-driven professional approach. His story reflects not just a career of compliance but a commitment to building smarter, safer, and more adaptable systems for the future of life sciences.
About the Author
Lindsey Desai is a science and systems writer specializing in regulatory innovation and digital transformation in life sciences. With a background in biomedical research, she brings clarity to complex topics and a deep respect for the people behind the protocols. Her work has appeared in publications focused on biotech, compliance strategy, and the future of intelligent operations.
