Pragya D. Yadav (born 1 July 1978) is an Indian scientist at the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), who is known for her research contributions in the field of communicable diseases and highly pathogenic viral infections, such as Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Nipah, Ebola, leading to improvising national public health surveillance policy for interventions and management.

[1][2][3] She headed the team that developed Covaxin, the first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in India [4] She was conferred the 2017 Major Gen Saheb Singh Sokhey Award in October 2019 by the Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

[6] She was born on 1 July 1978, in Kui Kol, Sant Kabir Nagar district, in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

In 2006, she traveled to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, for Biosafety level four laboratory (BSL 4) management training.

Yadav was instrumental in isolating the SARS-CoV-2 virus and conducting animal studies to develop indigenous Covid-19 vaccines Covaxin and ZyCoV-D.[6] She has expertise in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Nipah, Ebola, Hantaan orthohantavirus, Kyasanur Forest disease, Viral hemorrhagic fever and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus.

Dr Pragya Yadav bags Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award; becomes 1st woman among ICMR scientists to win:https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/dr-pragya-yadav-vigyan-yuva-shanti-swarup-bhatnagar-award-woman-imcr-scientists-9505234/ 14.