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Reaching minds and hearts

Professor P Rama Rao, a teacher par excellence, is also the director at NIPER (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research). He is known to have successfully established the Pharmacology & Toxicology department at NIPER and has also been instrumental in shaping other facilities at the institute. In a multi-dimensional career spanning over 25 years, Prof Ramarao has held various positions of responsibility and is member of various national committees. Sapna Dogra tries to understand Prof Rao, the person.

Prof. P. Rama Rao Director NIPER

There is no substitute for hard work. This has been the guiding philosophy for the man who took over as the director of one of the prestigious institutes in the country. He loves teaching young students as it gives him an opportunity to try to understand their viewpoint and at the same time make them understand his. "It is a great challenge", says Rao.

A renowned teacher and a researcher par excellence, Rao has six patents to his credit and has published articles and reports in 70 international and seven Indian journals. Even today, teaching is his first love and he believes that his students' success is his greatest achievement. As a thesis advisor of doctorate students, Rao has guided five PhD students and has three more registered. Additionally, he has guided 27 theseis with currently three being registered for various masters and doctorate courses in the pharma arena, as well as for M Tech and MS programmes.

Early days

Born in Rajahmundry, in Andhra Pradesh, Rao is the youngest of two brothers and two sisters. His father was a medical doctor, and mother, a homemaker. Thus, the atmosphere at home was very academic and his parents, who believed in giving freedom to children, helped shape his personality. "My parents gave me full freedom and always encouraged my education and career choice," he remembers.

After finishing school and junior college at Rajahmundry, Rao subsequently moved to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), to pursue further education in the field of pharmaceuticals. He completed his master (M'Pharm) from the same University in 1979 under guidance of various eminent academicians. "It was a great learning experience at BHU, where I was fortunate enough to be the student of Professor GP Srivastava", he reminisces.

After finishing his studies, Rao did a short stint in Analytical Testing Services, New Delhi. However, Rao had always been fascinated by basic research and drug discovery. "I am very much interested in mechanism of drug action. After serving the pharmaceutical industry for approximately one year, I joined my alma mater as a lecturer in 1980. This is where, I also completed my PhD in 1986", he informs. Following his PhD, he went to the University of Illinois, Chicago and Harvard Medical School, Boston and worked on opioid tolerance and dependence mechanisms and transmembrane signal mechanisms involving G-protein coupled receptors, calcium signalling and its intracellular determination. But Rao did not stay in the US for long. Homeland beckoned him and he returned.

Arrival at NIPER

On return, he joined as a Reader in Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmaceutics, BHU. While working in this department, he was offered a UGC Career Development award in 1995, which he did not avail and opted to join the NIPER. "I joined NIPER in 1995, after coming from a pioneer institute in pharmaceutical science. I learnt several new things at NIPER, while establishing the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Central Animal Facility and National Toxicological Centre". Rao also has a keen interest in information technology and computer application in pharmaceutical sciences. He took active interest in the computer centre and library that was established under the guidance of Dr C L Kaul, Founder Director. "I was instrumental in implementing various aspects and in the process, I learnt a lot".

In 2004, Rao took over as the director of NIPER. He believes that commitment, vision and determination are the three most important traits required to head a reputed institute like NIPER.

Leisurely pursuits

But there is more to Rao than what appears. For starters, he is a complete family man; a loving husband to his wife and a doting father to his three daughters. His eldest daughter is pursing her PhD in Pharmacogenomics in PGIMER, Chandigarh and the other two are pursuing their engineering. Rao tries to spend as much time with his family as possible. An ideal way of doing so is going on vacation. He likes to spend time at any hill resort with his family. His favourite holiday destination is still the US because he feels that everything, good, bad or ugly is available there.

That is not all. He also keeps himself updated with current affairs and latest happenings in pharma business by surfing the Internet and going through journals. "Practically, I browse more than three hours everyday. Spare time is very less, but I read a lot in my spare time", he states.

According to him, sheer hard work, a straightforward attitude, analytical thinking and the co-operation received from all quarters have helped him build a successful career. In the near future, he would work towards sustaining the growth of the institute and create new milestones in the pharmaceutical industry.

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