Dipankar Chakraborti - Arsenic Man of India who shapes science with the touch of humanity

Professor Dipankar Chakraborti

Dipankar Chakraborti, (H-index 50)  is the former Director at School of Environmental Studies and currently  Professor at Arsenic Research Unit of Jadavpur University, Kolkata. It is very difficult to narrate a person like Professor Chakraborti. He is a scientist, researcher, activist and crusader, Dr. Dipankar Chakraborti has donned many hats in his two decades of work on arsenic contamination of ground water. His work in this domain started with a focus on West Bengal, way back in 1988 when he first sounded the alarm. Ever since, he has been single-minded in his pursuit of raising awareness and effecting mitigation of this problem, a task that has been far from easy.

Widely referred to as the 'Arsenic Man of India' for his blunt observations in the face of denial by state governments, this epidemiologist and internationally recognized annalist of the problem across Asia has a penchant for courting debates with a series of ground-breaking reports. His compassion for the arsenic affected people, his unabated work and personal support, has however, endeared him to villagers affected by arsenocosis in India, Bangladesh and elsewhere in Asia.

Prof.Chakraborti is an example of reverse brain drain. Research students from many countries including Harvard University, USA, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA, Asia Arsenic Network, Japan, have come to SOES for doing research under his guidance. He was invited by Harvard, MIT, UCL and many other world's top universities for academic and research collaborations.Currently Prof.Chakraborti is an Adviser of American Chemical Society. Dipankar Chakraborti's greatest contribution to humanity is to save Rs 1.22 crore ( INR 12.2 million)  from his own consultancy earnings and kept the sum in a fixed deposit jointly with the Jadavpur University. The interest earned funds several SOES activities. Recently the university has decided to set up a trust - 'Dipankar Chakraborti Research Foundation' - with this corpus for continued research. 

BLDE University is fortunate to have him as a collaborator in 'Project Fluoride' and as an Editorial Adviser of BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences.

Prof.Srinivas K. Saidapur - A legendary evolutionary biologist who shapes medical sciences for future !

Professor S.K.Saidapur

 FNA; FNASc, FASc ; FTWAS

Srinivas Kishanrao Saidapur (born 1947) is the former Vice Chancellor of Karnatak University Dharwad.& current Director of Karnataka Higher Education Academy (Government of Karnataka). He did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. Karnatak University Dharwad  and became Postdoctoral Fellow at Kansas Medical Center, University of Kansus (1976-79). He has also received Alexander von Humbolt Fellowship (1989-90) to work further at University of Mainz. Beside these he was Visiting Scientist at National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki,Japan and INSA-DFZ Exchange Progarm Fellowship (1995-2004) at University of Ruhr, Bochum & University of Wurzburg, Germany. Professor Saidapur is a recipient of prestigious 'S.S.Bhatnagar Prize (1991)' from CSIR. in Medical Sciences. 

Professor Saidapur is an outstanding biologist who has immensely contributed on comparative endocrinology of amphibians and explained the different types of reproductive processes followed by the tropical anurans and their control mechanisms. His studies are reported to have widened the understanding of the reproductive biology of the vertebrates and proposed gametogenesis methodologies for producing frogs of predetermined sex. His research also enlightened us with enriched knowledge of gonadal steroidogenesis, follicular atresia, luteal functions and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis.  Professor Saidapur was responsible to introduce molecular biology, behavioral biology and more importantly evolutionary biology at Karnatak University Dharwad.

He has received many awards that includes INSA awards,  'Sir M. Visvesvaraya Lifetime Achievement Award', 'Professor MRN Prasad Memorial Lecture' and 'Professor Har Swarup Memorial Lecture'. In October 14 2016 Prof.Saidapur delivered the first "BLDE Alumni Lecture 2016" of BLDE University,Vijayapura. Professor Saidapur is also one of  the International Advisory Board member of "BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences'. 

Professor Dewan Majid - An Outstanding Physiologist, An Inspiration for Generations !

Professor Dewan S.A. Majid, MD; PhD

Dewan S. A. Majid is currently Professor of Physiology &  Director, Mouse Phenotype Core, Hypertension & Renal Center of Excellence, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans,USA. His  laboratory  mainly focused on the elucidation of the intrarenal mechanisms regulating renal hemodynamics and renal function. Current studies in his laboratory have been carried out to examine the hypothesis that ‘Salt-sensitive hypertension develops due to enhanced oxidative stress resulting from an imbalance between intrarenal nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O₂^-) which are regulated reciprocally in the kidney.’. This hypothesis is being tested in a series of experimental studies assessing such interactions between NO and O₂^- in an integrated approach involving acute and chronic experiments in gene targeted mice (Knockout mice for NOS, NADPH oxidase enzymes) as well as in rats evaluating systemic blood pressure and renal responses to various agents such as AngII, NO inhibitors and O₂^- scavengers etc. Professor Majid is one of the world leading renal scientists who has immensely contributed in the area of hypertension and renal hemodynamics. 

For his exemplary research on renal biology he was conferred "Prof.S.C.Mahalanabish Memorial Oration 2003" by The Physiological Society of India.  

A thorough gentleman, outstanding researcher and a physician Professor Dewan Majid inspires generations especially from researchers of India, Bangladesh etc. BLDE University is really honored to have him as Principal Research Collaborator on behalf of Tulane University with Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine of BLDE University. 

Prof.T.R.Raju - A legendary neuroscientist who inspires generations

Professor Trichur R.Raju,FASc

Professor T.R.Raju - Senior Professor of Neurophysiology at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore is considered as one of the greatest neuroscientists of India.  His works on developmental neuroscience to understand critical roles of trophic factors, glia, neurotransmitter and intrinsic electrical activity in neuronal survival, growth and formation of synaptic connectivity in the developing retina are just phenomenal. He is one of the pioneers in describing cytoskeleton and cell motility in the world. Prof.Raju’s contribution towards understanding neuronal plasticity in the developing and adult nervous system is noteworthy.  His work on rewiring or remodeling of brain circuitries which can form the basis for treating patients suffering from stroke and depression are extremely significant in neurosciences. Prof.Raju’s one more great contribution is on central nervous system regeneration and resident stem cell activation. This research has a potential application for achieving successful regeneration in the central nervous system including the spinal cord to treat paralysis. His further works on preclinical models on rodents for neurological diseases explores new therapeutic modalities for treating neurodegenerative diseases of the nervous system..

Prof.M.Fahim - An iconic Vascular Physiologist of India

Professor Mohammad Fahim,FAMS

Professor M.Fahim- Alexander Humbolt Fellow to Germany was the 1^st PhD student of legendary Prof.A.S.Paintal,FRS. He is considered as one of the greatest physiologists of India who redefines post Paintal physiology to the world.. His works under Paintal guidance on atrial receptor type B changed our understanding on Chronic Heart Failure (CHF).  The discovery of atrial receptor B and further works on that by Fahim enriched our knowledge on significance of cardiac vagal afferent fibers on various cardiac reflexes. Fahim’s works on  cardiac sensory atrial receptor B showed scientific communities how much these receptors are responsible for neural regulation of blood pressure and circulating blood volume. Fahim’s research explained the mechanisms on  neuro-humoral abnormalities and progressive loss of cardiovascular control in CHF. His works provide revolutionary changes of pharmacology to identify drugs to regulate blood pressure and chronic heart failure.

Professor Fahim was the former Director Professor & Head, Department of Physiology, V.P.Chest Institute,University of Delhi and currently Adjunct Professor at Jamia Hamdard University.

Prof. Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri - A Legendary Indian Theoretical Physicist.

Prof. Amal K. Raychaudhuri, D.Sc, FNA, FNASc.

Prof. Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri (1923-2005) was Professor of Physics in Presidency College Calcutta. Professor Raychaudhuri's greatest contribution was to discover "Raychaudhuri Equation", which governs the dynamics of the Universe and changes the concept of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. Prof. Raychaudhuri addressed the fundamental question of singularity in the most general form with no reference to any symmetry and any specific property of space time and energy distribution. His equation characterized by time like velocity vector under its own gravity and modified Einstein's equation and changes the history of the concept of universe. His equation is routinely used by Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking to explain the theory of universe.

His biography has been written by J.V. Narlekar and a documentary film has been made on his life. Perhaps after Satyendra Nath Bose, he is the most accepted Indian Physicist by the Western World.

He was a great teacher, science orator and popularly known as AKR by his students. Even when I was in Presidency College (1979-82), I was fortunate to hear many of his lectures including the one on explanation to Dirac Equation. 

Professor B.N.Koley- The most Illustrious Experimental Physiologist in Post Paintal Era

Professor B.N.Koley & Madam Juthika Koley

Professor B.N.Koley- Former Professor & Head, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta  is one of the all time great Indian physiologist. He is perhaps the last icon in the Department of Physiology,Calcutta University who carried the legacy of Late Professor A.S.Paintal. Professor Koley's works on experimental physiology is recognized world wide. A true disciplined scientist in his life he has given the  shape of physiological sciences of "Post Paintal era" in India. He was a Welcome Trust Fellow at University of Leeds,UK.His works mainly on cardiac nociceptors, atrial receptors a & b and sensory functions at gut. He invented the projection of nonmyelinated afferent fibres from cardiovascular receptor areas to the area postrema where angiotensin II exerts an action on neurones activated by these afferent fibres. His works substantiate a relationship between the synaptic connexions of non-myelinated vagal afferent fibres from the heart and lungs and the area postrema first time in the domain of vascular sciences.

Professor Koley and Madam Juthika Koley were my teachers in University of Calcutta. Today whatever I am that is possible because of Professor Koley. My regards,respect and salute to our legendary Professor !

Prof.Susan E.Leeman - Neuroendocrinologist who discovered Substance P & Neurotensin

Susan E.Leeman

Professor Susan E.Leeman is the Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, and the Director of the Neuropeptide Laboratory in the Pharmacology Department at the Boston University School of Medicine,USA. In 1974 Dr.Leeman discovered the structure of Substance P – a peptide whose discovery won Ulf von Euler the Nobel Prize in 1970.

She also discovered another peptide, neurotensin. Dr. Leeman’s laboratory not only achieved the first isolation and chemical characterization of the peptides substance P and neurotensin but also able to characterize the full length and truncated receptors for substance P, and recognized that the differences in their lengths lead to their differences in their intracellular signaling pathways. More recently, she has been interested in pharmacological intervention in inflammatory responses with particular emphasis on the role of these 2 peptides in immune cells. She and colleagues have recently demonstrated that truncated neurokinin-1 receptor is increased in colonic epithelial cells from patients with colitis-associated cancer. Prof.Leeman is considered one of the founders of the field of neuroendocrinology in the world.

Professor Leeman became the first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences in physiology and pharmacology in 1991. It is really unfortunate that Leeman missed the Nobel Prize in spite of her name being nominated !

Susan E.Leeman (2008)

Professor Susan Leeman is the Editorial Adviser (Pharmacology) of "BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences" .

Prof.L.Gabriel Navar- A Great Renal Physiologist

L.Gabriel Navar

Luis Gabriel (Gabby) Navar was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1941. Prof.Navar is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physiology at Tulane University Health Science Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr Navar’s laboratory investigate hormonal and paracrine mechanisms regulating renal hemodynamics, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and sodium excretion. In his early work, Dr Navar focused on the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism and its role in renal autoregulation. This work was pivotal in integrating the field of single-nephron macula densa - tubuloglomerular feedback with whole kidney autoregulation of blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. The development of the isolated perfused juxtamedullary preparation has provided a unique approach to investigating how paracrine regulators directly affect the renal mircocirculation. Prof.Navar has changed the old concept of renal functions. He explained intrarenal mechanisms mediating changes in sodium excretion that occur in response to changes in arterial pressure. This phenomenon is termed as pressure natriuresis. He is working on the pathophysiology of hypertension and altered kidney function in angiotensin II–dependent hypertension. 

He was involved in editing many journals like AJP (Renal), Hypertension,American Journal of Hypertension, Kidney International, Journal of American Society of Neprhology etc.

Professor L.Gabriel Navar- the former President of American Physiological Society is the Editorial Adviser of 'Renal Biology' of BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences. He is instrumental for establishing collaboration with Tulane University,New Orleans, USA and BLDE University, Bijapur,India

Professor David Beech- An iconic vascular biologist

David J.Beech- University of Leeds

Professor David J. Beech : Professor and Head of The Division of Cardiovascular & Diabetes, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds,UK.

Dr.Beech and his team discovered the gene that gives instructions to a protein which forms channels that open in response to mechanical strain from blood flow, allowing tiny electrical charges to enter cells and trigger the changes needed for new vessels to be built. .This blood vessel-creating gene that could be used to combat cancer, heart disease and strokes has been identified as Piezo1. This gene provides the instructions for sensors that tell the body that blood is flowing correctly and gives the signal to form new vessel structures.
Prof.Beech was in Presidency College, Kolkata last year and I was in Leeds that time. I have tried to bring him during last year Annual Physiological Society Conference at University of Calcutta but it could cot materialize. I am sure that he will visit soon here :) 

Remembering Late Prof.Dr.Gustavo Zubieta Castillo (1924-2015)

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo (May 20, 1926 - September 17, 2015) 

 

Professor Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo - The Mountain Guru, Bolivian visionary who loved art and Science. He was a Word Class Pioneer and defender of life and medicine at High Altitude. In 1964 after his observations of the perfused heart in dogs, he affirmed that the hearts of high altitude residents are much more resistant to hypoxia than those at sea level. He clarified misconceptions about lung diseases at high altitude, which were improperly termed “loss of adaptation”. His original and unique views on what was called Chronic Mountain Sickness, a term he proposed be discarded and be rather expressed as PolyErythroCythemia (as a more precise symptomatic description of multiple pathologies in the hypoxic environment of high altitude. He created the “Triple Hypoxia Syndrome” an essential description to explain momentary decrease of PaO2 in Polyerythrocythemic patients.

His concepts of hypoxia gave rise to the formulation of the High Altitude Adaptation Formula.

On his obituary legendary Respiratory Physiologist Prof.John B.West stated “He was a remarkable man and our discipline has lost a giant.”.

Renowned Environmental scientist Prof.Thuppil Venkatesh, a long time friend of Prof.Gustavo Sr stated "We lost one of the most valuable and precious personalities… a great loss to the world scientific community".

Prof.Gustavo’s son Prof.Dr.Gustavo Zubieta Calleja is also renowned pulmonologist like his legendary father and keeping his illustrious father’s legacy with pride and honor at his ‘High Altitude Pulmonary & Pathology Institute’, La Paz, Bolivia

  Late Gustavo Zubieta Castillo was a great artist. One of his painting

Prof. Nanduri R. Prabhakar- An Indian Legend in Medicine.

Nanduri R. Prabhakar, DSc is a leading authority in the field of O2 sensing and physiological consequences of chronic hypoxia. Prof. Prabhakar identified novel signalling pathways and molecular mechanisms underlined the morbidity associated with chronic intermittent hypoxia. His work on HIF-1 deficiency and  impairment of carotid body - mediated cardio-respiratory responses during chronic intermittent hypoxia has changed our understanding on hypoxia. His research enlightened us on systemic, cellular and molecular mechanism of chemoreflex mediated sympatho excitation during chronic intermittent hypoxia. 
Professor Prabhakar currently is a Professor and Director of Medicine, University of Chicago, USA. A "Julius Comroe Oration Awardee" of American Physiological Society. Prof. Prabhakar also received "Prof. S.C Mahalanabish Memorial Oration Award of The Physiological Society of India". He is the System Biology Adviser of "BLDE   University Journal of Health Sciences" .

Professor John Morrison-University of Leeds

Professor John F.B.Morrison a brilliant medical student at University of Edinburgh has changed the concept of visceral sensory mechanisms.His works on somatic reflex pathways in the spinal cord immensely pushed the understanding of autonomic functions on gastrointestinal tract.John Morrison, PhD;FRCS(Edin) has written  two books: the first, a volume on Visceral Sensation within the Progress in Brain Research series, was edited jointly with Femando Cervero; the other, on the Physiology of the Lower Urinary Tract, contains five chapters written by John on different topics related to sensory mechanisms and motor control in the bladder and urethra. Recently he has written a keynote review in a book series on the Autonomic Nervous System. Currently he is the Emeritus Professor at Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology,University of Leeds. John Morrison is closely associated with The Physiological Society of India and he is the Clinical Adviser of 'BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences".

John F.B.Morrison

John & Kath Morrison in Leeds

Wonderful time with my friend, philosopher & guide- Dr.Salim A.Dhundasi recently. May God bless him infinity .............

Presenting flowers to Dr.Salim

Nice Chat- Dr.Salim & Dr.Haroon

Curt von Euler

Curt von Euler conducted pioneering work on the central control of motor
systems, brain mechanisms of thermoregulation, and on neural systems
that control respiration.Prof.Curt von Euhler was also the son of Hans von Euhler (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) and half brother of Ulf von Euhler ( Nobel Laureate of Physiology).
His greatest works were on.the presence, properties, and functional roles of intercostal muscle spindles during spontaneous breathing, with and without intact gamma efferents, and to record impulse activity in the gamma fibers innervating the intercostal muscle spindles.

Physiology National Conference - ASSOPICON 2016

Physiology National Conference of Association of Physiologists of India (ASSOPICON 2016) will be held at BLDE University, Bijapur, Karnataka from 14-17th September 2016. The theme of the conference is "Physiology Decodes Novelty of Vascular Sciences". The Day One is extensively dedicated to Undergraduate Students of Medical Sciences and Life Sciences as "Students ASSOPICON". The chief guest of students ASSOPICON is Prof. H.A. Ranganath, Visiting Professor of IISc Bangalore. The main conference chief guest is Dr. Shashi Bala Singh, Director DIPAS-DRDO New Delhi. Professor T. R. Raju (NIMHANS), Prof. S Pyne (Harvard), Prof. Anura Kurpad (St. John's), Prof. M. Fahim (Jamia Hamdard), Prof S.B Deshpande (BHU), Prof. G.K Pal (JIPMER), Prof. Gautam Pal (Kalyani University), Prof. D. K. Chakrabarti (IIT-G), and many more..... will deliver their Scientific Deliberations in this conference, For Details please visit: ASSOPICON 2016