Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla is the Chairman of the Poonawalla Group which is well known for Serum Institute of India, Poonawalla Stud Farms etc.

Dr. Poonawalla was conferred Ph.D. by the University of Pune in 1988.

His most significant contribution has been in the development of life-saving biologicals and preventive vaccines, over the last four decades, through the company he founded – Serum Institute of India.  By making available vaccines at affordable prices to more than 140 countries worldwide, Dr. Poonawalla single-handedly has put India on the global vaccine map.  It is estimated that 1 out of every 2 children immunized worldwide gets at least one vaccine produced by Serum Institute.  This is the most outstanding contribution in the field of health.

Dr. Poonawalla has also received several national and international awards in recognition of his contribution in the field of Biotechnology.

The Government of India has honoured Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla with Padma Shree award in 2005 for making vaccines available at very affordable prices globally, protecting more than 50% of all new born children of the world in 2004.

In June 2005, Dr. Poonawalla received the “Sabin Humanitarian Award 2005” and the “Sabin Corporate Philanthropy Award”at the hands of Dr. Seth Berkley, President ^ CEO, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (Associate Bill Gates Foundation) at New York, U.S.A. for enabling U.N. Agencies and developing countries to provide vaccines at very low prices to under-privileged children of the world, thereby saving millions of lives.

Dr. Poonawalla has been honoured with the “U.S. Award for Excellence in the Inter-American Public Health” for his extra-ordinary support to the Initiative to Eliminate Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in the Americas, presented by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on 28th September, 2010.

Dr. Poonawalla's passion for thoroughbred breeding and racing is renowned throughout the country and also internationally. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Turf Authorities of India (Apex Body controlling racing), as also the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd, the Stud Book Authorities of India and The Committee for Pattern Races in India.

In the field of horseracing and breeding, Dr. Poonawalla has been the Champion Breeders on ten occasions and his Stud Farms have produced 318 Indian Classic winners todate.

Dr. Poonawalla has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Monsieur Louis Romanet, Chairman, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on 5th October 2009 at the International Horseracing Conference at France Galop, Paris. He has also been conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award on 25th October 2009 by the Chairmen of the Turf Authorities of India, as  also  the “Hall of Fame Award” in 2002-03 bestowed upon by the Turf Authorities of India for his immense contribution to horse racing and breeding.