Dr. Rajendra Prasad is former Professor and Head, Deptt. of Biochemistry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. Dr. Prasad completed his Ph.D. in Biochemistry entitled, “Effect of malnutrition on Cadmium toxicity with special reference to intestine and kidney of rhesus monkeys”. After that, Dr. Prasad awarded a distinguished fellowship as Visiting Fellow at GRC, NIA, National Institute of Health, USA, for three years. After completion his fellowship, Dr. Prasad joined as faculty at Department of Biochemistry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India in 1988 and later promoted as Professor and Head.
During this period, Dr. Prasad as invited as Visiting Scientist (July 1999 to July 2000) at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroid, MI, USA and later as Visiting Professor at University of California, San Francisco, (UCSE, USA). Dr. Prasad has 40 years of research and teaching experience to PG students.
Dr. Prasad actively engaged in the research field of membrane biochemistry and molecular biology of membrane transporter and their regulation under patho-physiological conditions with special reference to Zinc transporter, molecular genetics of various metabolic disorders viz. Wilson disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Galactosemia, Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Gilbert syndrome. In addition, Dr. Prasad also worked on molecular biology and molecular basis of Renal cell carcinoma with special reference to telomerase and telomere biology and epigenetics.
Novel renal, Zinc transporter, Kinetically characterized purified and molecular cloned, designated as r-Zip 10 [SLC 39 A 10] registered with gene bank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) with accession # D025646. Interestingly, on the basis of our reported nucleotide sequences of Slc39a70 c-DNA and predicted amine acid sequences (r-ZIP10), Several company have been producing and commercializing of mono and poly clonal antibodies against r-ZIP10 and Si-RNA against Slc39a10 gene. Novel variants/mutations in SLC39A10, WD[CuATP7B], CF (CFTR), Galactosemia (GALT & GALK), Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Gilbert syndrome (GTA1) genes are published. Moreover, more than 170 original articles have been published in international journals of repute from work done in these fields.
A novel patent “D-pencillamine nanoparticles” and process of synthesis has been granted with #322060 by Government of India, the patent office, Intellectual Property, India. This developed molecule is of great significance in the effective treatment of neurological phenotype of Wilson disease. In addition, we have developed some potent molecules which are able to restore the functional activity of genetically defective proteins viz. Cu-ATase, B in Wilson disease and CFTR protein in Cystic fibrosis.
Dr. Prasad has various awards in his credential such as Fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences, India, Fellow of American College of Nutrition, USA and Fellow of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (ACBI). Dr. Prasad has also been awarded a prestigious award “Vijay Shree Award” by Govt. of India.
Dr. Prasad has executed more than 20 research projects awarded by ICMR, DBT, DST, CSIR, Govt. of India. Along with Dr. Prasad has supervised more than 25 PhD students and more than 70 MD/MS/DM for their research dissertation.
Dr. Prasad has several books and chapters in his credential for instance “Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Molecular genetics of genetic disorders” edited by Dr. R. Prasad “Trans World Research Singapore”; Universe and Life: A version of Hinduism philosophy, through scientific facts. New Era International Imprints. A chapter “Protocol”, Expression purification and characterization for methods in Molecular Biology Series protocols” edited by Barry S. Selinsky, HUMANA Press. A special chapter on “Therapeutic Antitumor approaches, Targeting, Telomerase and Telomere Biology, Adis