Dr. Ravindra K. Rawal, a Scientist-E at CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, has over 23 years of experience in Natural Product Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry. He specializes in drug discovery targeting viruses like HIV and SARS-CoV-2, earning his Ph.D. from the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow and completed over six years of postdoctoral research under renowned virologist Prof. Don J. Diamond and medicinal chemist Prof. C.K. Chu in the USA. His research emphasizes plant-derived compounds for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders, merging traditional knowledge with modern science through metabolomics to explore the complex biochemistry of these plants. He utilizes machine learning and computational techniques for optimizing drug candidates and has developed important databases like OSADHI and the North East India Medicinal Plants Database (NEI-MPDB) for India's biodiversity. He has published over 200 papers, accumulating more than 7247 citations and achieving an h-index of 40. His contributions were recognized with a Certificate of Excellence from the University of Georgia in 2012 and continuous recognition by Stanford University as one of the top 2% of scientists globally for five years. Dr. Rawal’s interdisciplinary approach merges traditional knowledge with modern technology, enhancing natural product-based drug discovery and promoting sustainable health outcomes aligned with cultural practices.