Dr Bhan takes additional charge as DG, CSIR

Dr MK Bhan, secretary, department of biotechnology (DBT), has taken over the additional charge as secretary, department of scientific and industrial research and director general, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, for a period of three months.

Dr Bhan's appointment comes in the wake of the approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, after Dr V Prakash, director, Central Food Technological Research Institute of CSIR, who was earlier selected to succeed Dr RA Mashelkar, expressed his inability to join on medical grounds. Dr Mashelkar retired on December 31, 2006.

Ranbaxy Special Award to Prof. K Srinath Reddy

Ranbaxy Science Foundation, a non-profit organization set up by Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) to encourage and reward Indian scientists around the world has presented its 3rd 'Ranbaxy Special Award in Public Health' to Professor K Srinath Reddy, Professor of Cardiology, AIIMS, and president, Public Health Foundation of India, for his research contributions in public health in the field of epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

CSIR's Prof. Ramachandran Gold Medal for Prof. TP Singh

Prof. TP Singh, Distinguished Biotechnologist and Professor, Department of Bio-Physics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has been named for the Prof. Ramachandran Gold Medal for 2006 for his exemplary contributions in the areas of protein structure determination and new drug discovery.

This award, instituted by CSIR in 2004 in the memory of Prof.GN Ramachandran, a pioneer in protein chemistry and the founding father of structural biology in India, is awarded every year to a scientist for excellent contribution in fundamental or applied research in biological sciences.

Professor TP Singh has made internationally leading contributions on the structure and function studies of lactoferrin proteins, serine proteases, phospholipase A2 enzymes, plant proteins, secretory glycoproteins and lactoperoxidases. His group has evolved into an excellent center on structure-based drug design. Currently, his group is working on several lead molecules against inflammatory disorders and breast cancer.

Dr Ramakrishnan is new MD of Thermo Electron LLS India

Dr G Ramakrishnan is the new managing director of Thermo Electron LLS India Pvt Ltd, under Thermo Fisher Scientific, the largest company of its kind with laboratory instrumentation, analytical instruments, process instruments, environmental instruments, chemicals, diagnostics and consumables, with an annual sales exceeding $9.5 billion. He replaces Virendra Tipnis.

Prior to joining Thermo Fisher Scientific two years ago, Dr Ramakrishnan was the vice-president of Agilent Technologies, heading the Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis (LSCA) Group.

Dr Ramakrishnan received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from BARC/Bombay University in 1976 and worked as research associate at the Florida State University and Brown University in the US. He has worked as the Asia Pacific manager for mass spectrometry in Hewlett-Packard from 1990-1999. Dr Ramakrishnan is also the president of the Indian Analytical Instrument Association and the vice-president of Chromatographic Society of India. He is deeply interested in Carnatic and Hindustani music and has composed many devotional songs.

ICR appoints Shamiq Hussain as India country manager

The Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) has appointed Shamiq Hussain as India country manager. He joined the ICR with a background in both corporate pharmaceutical and clinical research industries having previously worked at SmithKline Beecham, ClinTec International and a number of CROs.

Shamiq Hussain as ICR's first India manager will work in partnership with local professional bodies and organizations to establish ICR as the leading organization for clinical research professionals in India.

Dr John Hooper, chief executive, ICR, said, "The appointment of Shamiq is truly positive news for the ICR in India. He has already started meeting with target companies and imparting the ICR's vision to raise standards, share knowledge and develop professionals in clinical research."