WELCOME TO DELEGATES
Samyukti 2013
SESSION 1
The science of Integration
DR ISSAC MATHAI
Dr. Mathai is M.D(Hom.),M.R.C.H.(Lond.) is the Chairman, Managing & Medical Director of
SOUKYA International Holistic Health Centre Chairman – SAHAYA Holistic Integrative Medical
Centre hails from a family having a tradition of homeopathic practice spanning 5 decades. He
graduated from the A.N.S.S. Medical College - Kerala, India and took his M.D. (Homeopathy) from
the Hahnemann Post-Graduate Institute of Homeopathy, London. Following this he took his
M.R.C.H. (London) and joined as a physician at Europe`s first and largest Holistic Health Care Clinic
for over 10 years. He studied Chinese Pulse Diagnosis and Acupuncture at the W.H.O. Institute of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanking, China. He had undergone the Mind-Body Medicine
training programme of the Harvard Medical School, USA. In January 2002, he started SOUKYA, the
International Holistic Health Centre, in Whitefield, Bangalore which is a residential holistic health
care facility that incorporates different systems of medicine (Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Naturopathy
etc) and complementary therapies (Yoga, Acupuncture, Reflexology etc). He has a patient network
of over 10,000 covering more than 80 countries. He continues to be a visiting consultant at
Holistic Centres in London and the U.S. Recently SOUKYA has been awarded the Best Wellness
Centre by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Dr.Mathai is also the Chairman of SAHAYA
Holistic Health Centre, situated in Bangalore which caters to all sectors of society. He was
recognized as ‘Best of India – Place for Nature Cure’ in India Today 2006 and winner of ‘Best
Indian Holistic Health Resort’ award at the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2010 in September, 2010
PADMASRI DARSHAN SHANKAR
He is the Advisor, Institute of Trans Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology and
Managing Trustee, FRLHT, Bangalore He was the advisor Planning Commission government
of India, Executive Director- Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT),
Bangalore, India, Consultant- Office of Advisor to Prime Minister on Technology Missions,
New Delhi, Executive Chairman- All India network of community health organizations
Coimbatore, India. Research Fellow- United Nations University, Tokyo, Director- Academy of
Development Science, Karjat tribal blocks, Raigad ,Dist.,Maharashtra, Consultant- UNICEF,
Regional Planning Office, New Delhi, India. Coordinator (Reader). He has a recipient of a
number of awards and recognitions, few of them being ‘Norman Borlaug’ Award for
contributions to promoting conservation of wild populations of medicinal plants in 1998 and
Equator Initiative Prize by the United Nations. In 2002, the Govt. of India conferred its
civilian award Padma Shri to the Founder Director of I-AIM, In 2011. He is the Member,
Executive Board of Global Initiative for Traditional Systems (GIFTS), Oxford, U.K, Research
Advisory Committee of National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad and a host of
other organizations. He has published chapters in several books and reports published
nationally and internationally and Published several articles in journals, Edited and written in
a book titled “Challenging the Indian Medical Heritage” Published by Foundation Books,
subsidiary of Cambridge University Press.
PROF S RAMASWAMY
Is the Senior Professor and Dean, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative
Medicine (inSTEM), CEO, Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) National
Center for Biological Sciences, GKVK- Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore. Molecular
Biophysics, Indian Institute of Science. He was the Chief Executive Officer, Center for
Cellular and Molecular Platforms (June 2009 -current) Professor and Dean, Institute for
Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. (June 2009 - current) Adjunct Professor,
2009-current, Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, The University
of Iowa, Iowa City. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Department of
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Iowa (July 2003- current),
Assistant Professor (2000-2003), Assistant Dean (Scientific Affairs, July 2006 - 2009)
Researcher and Docent, Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala Sweden (1994-2000).Post-doctoral
Research Fellow, Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala Sweden (1992-1994).He has over 80 peer
reviewed publications and 4 patents.
DR D C SUNDARESH
Dr.D.C.Sundaresh MS (Ortho), D.ortho is the President, M.S. Ramaiah Advanced Learning Center
Sr.Prof. of Orthopaedics M.S.Ramaiah Medical College & Teaching Hospital Bangalore. He is specially
interest is in Arthroscopy & Arthroscopic surgery of the Knee, Spinal surgery Arthroplasty of the Hip &
Knee Promote research & medical & surgical skills training His keen areas of research are to establish a
threshold level of Osteoporosis for cutout of the compression hip screw in Trochanteric fractures –
AADO research grant which completed already. He has completed Manufacture & trial of lightweight
hand & finger prosthesis Using Silicone elastomers - Under - Mission mode, District Rehabilitation
scheme, Science & Technology department Govt. of India. Project - A Phase III, 12-Week, Multi-centre,
Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo and Active Comparator-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to
Investigate the Efficacy and Safety study drug 2mg, 10mg, 25mg, and 50mg administered orally once
daily, in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis and “A multi-center, standard of care controlled study to
evaluate the Long-Term safety of Bicifadine for the treatment of Chronic Low Back pain” has been
carried out. He has designed Endoskeletal below knee prosthesis and developed an economical & light
weight endo-skeletal below knee prosthesis with locally available materials which is currently in use at
the Prosthetic & Orthotic centre at M S Ramaiah Hospital also has done “Double-blind, Triple dummy,
parallel-group, randomized six month study to compare celecoxib (200 mg bid) with diclofenac SR (75
mg bid) plus omeprazole (20 mg qd) for gastrointestinal events in subjects with osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis at high-risk of gastrointestinal adverse events”, Amtol – Osteo / DRL/2007/N-1
Comparative Evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of Amtolmetin Guacyl Versus Diclofenac Sodium in
the treatment of Osteoarthritis and many other such valuable studies. He is the member of Karnataka
Orthopedic association, Indian Orthopedic Association, Pediatric Orthopedic society of India, Indian
Arthroscopy association, Asia Pacific Arthroplasty society. He has over 18 peer reviewed publications
DR G G GANGADHARAN
Dr. G. G. Gangadharan, Ayurvedacharya, PhD, a practicing Ayurvedic physician, is currently the Medical
Director of Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative medicine, (I-AIM) an initiative of Foundation for
Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), based in Bangalore, India. He is an expert on authentic
Ayurvedic methods of diagnosis – specially the pulse diagnosis – and treatment, and successfully treats
lifestyle disorders. He has dedicated himself to propagation of Ayurveda knowledge and promoting use
of Ayurveda and local health traditions at the grass root level in rural parts of India. He did his 7½-yr
Ayurvedacharya course from Madras University, India in 1985. He obtained his PhD from Tilak Ayurveda
Mahavidyalaya, Pune in 2013. Currently he is pursuing International Masters in Health Leadership from
McGill University, Canada. He served as an editor of a well-known journal of Ayurveda in India ANCIENT
SCIENCE OF LIFE. He has supervised development and publication of 10 Monographs on Local Health
Traditions and Ayurveda which made significant contributions to the revival of ISM and LHT in India. He
has co-authored 4 books on medicinal plants and has 20 research papers to his credit. He is a fellow of
Ashoka Innovators for the Public of Ashoka Foundation and recipient of awards for the best International
Awareness Building on . He is a regular Consultant for CAPART, DST (Govt. of India) on Medicinal Plant
related Projects (Proposal evaluation and Work evaluation).he is the MEMBER – STATE MEDICINAL
PLANT BOARD, Kerala & Tamil Nadu, CONVENOR – Scientific Advisory Committee of International
Institute of Ayurveda (Chemistry Division), PRESIDENT – Centre for Innovation in Science & Social Action
(CISSA), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, MEMBER – Scientific Advisory Committee (Ayurveda), CCRAS,
Department of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Former member – Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical
Advisory Board (ASUDTAB), Dept. of ISM & H. Govt. of India (2000-2003), Senior Editor, Journal of
Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Member – Editorial Board, Evidence based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine eCAM, USA, Temporary advisor to the Director General, Southeast Asian Region of
WHO. He has over 20 peer reviewed research publications, has co-authored over books 10 monographs
DR RANGESH PARAMESH
Dr. Rangesh Paramesh is currently the Head (Discovery group) at R&D Center, Himalaya Drug
Company. He is heading a team of innovators for developing novel actives from nature with
ancient wisdom of Ayurveda for pharmaceutical range of products. He has been serving the
company for over a decade and a half. Previously he was an Ayurveda consultant in Switzerland,
Germany, Italy and UK, involved in establishing Ayurveda clinics in Europe. He has conducted
periodic Ayurveda seminars in Germany, Switzerland, Mauritius, UK, UAE, Muscat, Ecuador,
Singapore, Malaysia, China, Mongolia and Turkmenistan for physicians in western medicine. He
has given a number of seminars and workshops to the learned societies and conferences in India
and abroad on Ayurveda and healthy lifestyle changes and has addressed IT professionals and
young entrepreneurs, college students, house wives and people of all walks of life. He provides
Ayurveda medical consultations to non-communicable and lifestyle disorders. He has delivered
several media presentations on Ayurveda for the public over televisions and radio, in India and
abroad. Dr. Rangesh was conferred FELLOWSHIP of Royal Asiatic Society, London in 1993. He was
bestowed ‘PURNA SVASTHYA AWARD’, from the World Federation of Societies of Holistic
Medicine, Italy, in 1991; ‘HAMSA PURASKARA AWARD’ from Hamsajyothi (Reg.), Bangalore,
in1999, ‘VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD’ from Rotary Club Bangalore Orchards for high ethical
standards, excellence & integrity in Ayurveda medical practice, in 2006. Currently is the VicePresident, Association of Manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines, New Delhi.
SESSION 2
Evidence based Ayurveda
DR DB ANANTHA NARAYANA
Dr. DB Anatha Narayana has been working in/for IDMA for over 2 decades for promotion of Pharmacy
profession and industry. Early on in his career, he taught pharmacy for 10 years and later worked at
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd for over 10 years. He then joined Dabur Research Foundation (DRF) & rose to
become its Director, a premier research organization which he built and nurtured for over 12 years. He is
credited for the phenomenal growth of Dabur led a team of researchers to develop for launch anticancer drugs, Ayurvedic drugs, cosmetics, food products, honey and a large number of herbal products
built with science and technology. He is credited at Dabur and later at HUL, for demonstration of the
application of “Reverse Pharmacology” approach. He has contributed scientifically for the development
of Herbals & Traditional medicines area in India. He is a member of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission’s
Scientific Committee and is Chairman of its Herbs and Herbal Products Committee. He has served on
Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia Committee and ASU DTAB & as a Convener of Herbal Cosmetics Committee of
Bureau of Indian Standards, as Convener of a subgroup of Dr. Mashelkar Committee. He is currently on
the ISO Working Group 4 on Naturals and Organic. He is an expert member on the Scientific Panel of the
recently formed Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, and contributes positively to the
development of regulations of health supplements and functional foods. He was an active member
Managing Committee of Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturer’s Association (ADMA). He has served on Indian
Pharmaceutical Association,, and was Secretary of Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association,, and is
very active in the professional field. He is a Co-author of 12 books and inventor of more than 20 patents.
Dr DBA very recently superannuated form Unilever Research India as Director Regulatory Affairs South
Asia, in Dec, 2010. He is also a recipient of the Eminent Pharmacist award 2007, of the Indian
Pharmaceutical Association.
PROF BHUSHAN PATWARDHAN
Professor Bhushan Patwardhan has over 25 years experience in research and education brings a
unique blend of industry-academia executive culture. He has been on Boards of several
Universities and member of important national committees of the UGC, CSIR, DST, DBT, ICMR,
NIPER and also on Taskforces of National Knowledge Commission, Karnataka Knowledge
Commission, 11th and 12th Plan of the Planning Commission and consultant to CIPIH, SEARO,
WHO Geneva. . He has worked as academic head of Manipal Education Group, Director, Institute
of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Bengaluru and was Vice Chancellor of a deemed University.
As Convener of Vision Group of EDGE Forum he is providing remarkable leadership for innovations
in higher education sector. He is on the research advisory committees of national institutions
including ICMR - RMRC Belgaum, CSIR-NBRI Lucknow and TIFAC. He is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of
Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine and is on Editorial Boards of reputed Journals. He is recipient
of many awards and orations including Parkhe Award for industrial excellence, Dewang Mehta
Award for education excellence, Dr C. Dwarkanath Oration, Dr P.K. Devi Oration, KLEU Oration. He
has delivered invited lectures at many national and international bodies including Indian National
Science Academy, Indian Pharmacological Society, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, American
Chemical Society, American College of Rheumatology and reputed Universities including UCLA,
Johns Hopkins, George Washington among many others. He has attracted substantial research
funding and has guided 18 PhD students, published over 200 popular articles, 8 Patents, over 120
research publications with Scopus h index 25, Google Citations h-Index 27, i10-index 49 with over
2833 citations.
PROF KONDAIAH
Prof Paturu Kondaiah, Ph.D (Genetics), is the Professor & Chairperson, Department
of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore. He was the Research Fellow, Institute of Genetics, Osmania University,
Hyderabad, India Visiting Fellow/Visiting Associate, Laboratory of
Chemoprevention, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda MD, USA. Is the Faculty
(currently Professor), Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and
Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He is the Chairperson, Dept.
of MRDG, IISc, Bangalore. Member, Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation,
Department of Biotechnology, (GOI) India. Member, Committee to evaluate COE
proposals in cancer biology, DST. he was the Member, Board of Studies in life
sciences, University of Hyderabad. Is the Member, DST-PAC for Fast track Young
Scientist’s proposals. He is the Chairman, Review Committee on Genetic
Manipulation, Department of Biotechnology, (GOI) India. He is immensely
interested in cancer biology and Molecular principles of Dosha prakriti. He has over
97 peer reviewed research publications
DR ASHWINI MATHUR
Dr. Ashwini Mathur is the Head of Quantitative Analytics, Central Analytics Function,
Novartis Healthcare Private Limited. He has more than 18 years of experience working
as a clinical researcher. He has an Executive MBA from IIM Bangalore, a PhD in
Biostatistics from University of California, Berkeley, USA and Master’s Degree in
Mathematics from IIT Delhi. He has more than 40 peer reviewed publications on
collaborative medical research, 2 book chapters and more than 100 invited
presentations and posters. He is currently the President of Indian Association for
Statistics in Clinical Trials and was the Secretary of International Biometrics Society from
2006-2010. He is actively involved in teaching as Adjunct Faculty at Institute of Applied
Biology and Bioinformatics in Bangalore, Department of Biostatistics, Manipal
University in Manipal and Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine in Bangalore.
He is currently an editor for two peer reviewed journals – Perspectives in Clinical
Research and Indian Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. He has worked in
the past as Senior General Manager for GlaxoSmithKline in their Bangalore and
Philadelphia office and as a clinical and pre-clinical statistician in their Philadelphia
office. He also has publications in peer reviewed national and International journals and
is a recipient of many awards including Above and Beyond Awards, Novartis for 6
consecutive years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012).
DR RAMA JAYASUNDAR
Dr. Rama Jayasundar is currently the Additional Professor, Department of NMR, All
India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. She is a Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance (NMR) physicist and her area of specialization is Biomedical NMR. She
has a wide experience on MR imaging and spectroscopy on experimental and
clinical systems. Her research interest include Biomedical applications of MR;
Applications of MR in ayurveda; NMR of medicinal plants; Scientific research in
ayurveda using my expertise as a scientist and my core competence of NMR and
also in dissemination of knowledge of science behind ayurveda. She has over 130
publications in reputed national & international journals and over 250
presentations in national & international conferences. She is a recipient of several
prestigious fellowships and scholarships and has very recently been awarded the
Women and Technological Innovation National Award, 2013 for innovative
applications of MR in Ayurveda. She was also invited to contribute article to the
Plenary Session on ‘Complexity and Analogy in Science’, Pontificia Academia
Scientiarvm, Vatican, 2012.
SESSION 3
Relevance of Integrative
Medicine and the need for
IM in Tertiary Care Hospitals
DR NARESH SHETTY
Dr. Naresh Shetty is the President, International Program & Strategic Alliance, M. S.
Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Senior Professor of Orthopaedics ,M.S. Ramaiah
Medical College & Hospitals He is an Expert in Orthopaedic Surgery mainly Trauma
& Arthroplasty for the past 21 years He was the Medical Director, M.S. Ramaiah
Medical Teaching Hospital 1998-2003. Past President Bangalore Orthopaedic
Society – 2002, Medical Director – M.S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bangalore
from Apr. 2004 – 2011 Past President of the Karnataka Orthopaedic Association
2007 – 2008.Vice President of OASIS (Orthopedics Association for South Indian
Surgeon) – 2008-2009. Associate Dean, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital
from Aug. 2008. Member of Board Of Studies in Medical (PG) – (Clinical) – Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences and President for Orthopeadic Association of
South Indian States for the year 2012 – 2013.
DR VALIATHAN M S
Prf. Valiathan is currently He received his MBBS (1956) from Kerala University and postgraduate
training in surgery leading to FRCS and Master's degree in Surgery from the University of
Liverpool, UK. Subsequently, he specialized in cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown
University Hospitals in USA and became a Fellow of the Canadian Royal College in Cardiovascular
and Thoracic Surgery. He received Honorary Doctorates from several universities. He was
Professor of Cardiac Surgery and Director during his stay at the Sree Chitra Institute (1974-94) and
also worked as first Vice-Chancellor of the Manipal University. As a HomiBhabha Senior Fellow and
a student of Sanskrit, he carried out a study of the “Caraka Samhita”, which was published by
Orient Longman in 2003 as “The Legacy of Caraka”. The companion volumes on the Legacies of
“The Great Three” of Ayurveda – Susruta and Vagbhata – were released by the same publisher in
2006 and 2009. A new book “An Introduction to Ayurveda” is under publication. He has been a
great advocate of research for Ayurveda and has engineered several modifications at the reforms
level. Currently, Dr. Valiathan is engaged in promoting research in basic science, based on cues
from Ayurvedic concepts and procedures. The research in prominent institutes is being supported
by government funding in the form of “A Science Initiative in Ayurveda” (ASIIA). ASIIA made good
progress and has been taken over by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India, for regular support under a “Task Force in Ayurvedic Biology”. Prof Valiathan is a recipient of
many Awards for Science, Technology and Education and has also been conferred the Padma
Vibhushan.
DR ASHWINIKUMAR RAUT
Dr. Ashwinikumar Raut is a M.D. (Ayurveda – Kayachikitsa) and is currently the Director, Clinical Research
& integrative medicine at Kasturba Health Society’s Medical Research Centre, Mumbai. He is committed
to modern scientific enquiry in Ayurveda, for its fundamental principles, procedures, formulations and
medicinal substances. Having close association and interactions with leading biomedical scientists,
leaders in Ayurveda and specialists in clinical medicine Dr. Raut has enriched his approaches, in applying
relevant modern science to Ayurveda. Dr. Raut has been engaged in several research programmes &
projects sponsored by government agencies and industry. He successfully coordinated as a principal
investigator, major project on ‘Preclinical development of herbal antiarthritic drug’ sponsored by Dept of
Biotechnology (DBT) Govt of India. He has ably completed as principal investigator a project on
‘degenerative joint diseases’ of NMITLI-arthritis sponsored by Council for Scientific & Industrial research
(CSIR), Govt of India. Dr. Raut is co-investigator of a project on advanced centre of reverse pharmacology
sponsored by Indian Council for Medical Research. (ICMR). Dr. Raut had been a mentor; advisor &
reviewer for a major academic project of digitizing Ayurveda ‘Ayusoft’ organized by CDAC. He is a
founder member and convener of ‘Vaidya Antarkar Memorial Forum’, a forum formed to carry forward
the mission of scientific, rational and evidence based Ayurveda. He is a guest editor, reviewer and
member of editorial board of several bio-medical and Ayurvedic journals e.g. Indian Drug, JAIM, Indian
Practitioner, Journal of Mid-life Health, IJRA, JREIM, JNIMA, JCRA and several other. Dr. Raut has about
50 scientific publications to his credit in national and international journals of repute and has received
CDRI (Central Drug Research Institute) award in 2007 for excellence in research for his work in Ayurveda
& rheumatology and AAPNA (Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America) International
Dhanwantari Award 2010 for excellence in Ayurvedic Practice.
DR ALI ZAMIR KHAN
Dr. Ali Zamir Khan MBBS, MS, FRCS (Glasgow), FRCS (CTH), FIAGES Fellowship Sports Med
(RCSI, Ireland), PGDM (Clinical Research, UK), CCT (UK) is the Head of Department, Medanta,
The Medicity, Gurgaon, India. His specialty Interest is in: Robotic Thoracic Surgery /Video
Assisted Thoracic Surgery / Endobronchial Surgery/Cosmetic Chest Wall Correction (Pectus).
He is a recipient of many awards and prizes including 2012 Medela Award, European Society
of Thoracic Surgeons, Germany, 2012 Best Poster Presentation, ISMICS, California, 2011 Dr.
MM Malla Oration Award, ICS, Kathmandu, Nepal. He has received prestigious research
grants including 2001 Pall Medical Research grant for “Leucocyte depletion and
Immunological responses during cardiopulmonary bypass”, 2002 Bristol Myers Squibs
Academic grant: Transoesophageal Echocardiography, 2012 Baxter US Research Grant:
Sealants in air leak study. He has participated in and has conducted innumerable CME
programs/ Courses / Conferences and is affiliated to many National and International
organizations and has many presentations and publications in National/International
conferences and peer reviewed publications.
DR GEETHAKRISHNAN
Dr Geethakrishnan, MD(Ayurveda) is Head of Integrative Medicine Department, Medanta. An MD in
Dravyaguna from Government Ayurveda College, Trivandrum, he is also an experienced clinician, and has
successfully established Sanjeevani Ayurveda Hospital (an independent Ayurvedic hospital at Trivandrum),
Mahabodhi Mallige Medical Centre, (a collocated Ayurvedic facility in an allopathic hospital at Bangalore) and
the Integrative Medicine Department at Medanta (a multi-disciplinary, super-specialty hospital conglomerate in
Gurgaon). Working together with the several super specialities at Medanta, he has developed numerous
integrative therapeutics of Ayurveda and Yoga, which are practised in minimally invasive thoracic surgery,
thoracic surgery, cardiology, radiation-oncology, sleep medicine, neurology & neuro-surgery, urology and
intensive-care areas of patient-care. He has integrated regular use of Yoga and Marma therapies into day-to-day
Ayurveda practice and integrative practice at Medanta. He has extensive research background in drug research
for diabetes and cancer and holds several Indian & one US patent. Presently he works on seven drugs in
botanical space with leads obtained from Ayurveda, in the area of diabetes, cancer, thrombocytopenia, wound
healing and inflammation, and PDE 5 inhibition. These drugs are of varied compositions ranging from polyherbal drug, single plant extract, purified natural chemical compound and lead optimisation of a synthetic drug.
He has extensive experience in preclinical pharmacology and developing CMC data for complex botanical
formulations. He has published several articles, mostly in the areas of diabetes preclinical research and
Integrative Medicine. He is Standing Advisory Committee member of IIIM-CSIR, Trustee, World Ayurveda
Foundation, and Member, Ayurveda Advisory council to Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh.
DR RAGHAVENDRA M RAO
Dr. Raghavendra M Rao is currently the Research Co-ordinator at the National Cancer
Registry Program, ICMR, NCDI, Bangalore and Research Co-ordinator, Academic Research
and Investigator Initiated Trials, HCG Enterprises, Bangalore. He completed his Bachelor’s
degree in Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences from SDM College, Ujire in in 1998 and his PhD in
Yoga and Life Sciences form SVYASA, Bangalore in 2007. He has a rich experience in
academic and research areas and has completed many projects as Research Officer, Coinvestigator and Principal Investigator, the most important and recent one being
Biobehavioural effects of stress management for women with breast cancer undergoing
adjuvant radiotherapy, a national cancer Institute (NCI, USA) funded R01 grant award and
phase III trial in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. He is
also the Recipient of 2013 Conquer Cancer Foundation merit award from American Cancer
Society and American Society for Clinical Oncology, Dr Manonmani Rudraiah award for best
PhD thesis, 3rd Convocation Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, in 2007 and
Dr. Sushila Thacker Prakruti Mandir Prize for the best paper in the field of Yoga , Naturopathy
and Natural Health by Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India in 2002.
SESSION 4
Novel paradigms for
research in Ayurveda and
Integrative Medicine
DR H R NAGENDRA
Dr. Nagendra, a former space scientist at NASA, returned to his native India, changing, as he
says, from engineering to human engineering “in search of truth.” According to him, the
search for ultimate truth through external means (science) did not take him far enough and
that is why he chose to dive deep into his own consciousness in search of reality through
yoga. He then proceeded to combine the best of East with the best of West as Swami
Vivekananda envisioned. In 1975, Dr. Nagendra established Swami Vivekananda Yoga
Research Foundation (VYASA), which has published more than 150 research papers on Yoga
and its applications, apart from being a unique Yoga Therapy Health Center and a Yoga
University training students in the field of Yoga. Dr. Nagendra was also formerly the Vice
Chancellor of SVYASA university, Bengaluru and he is also on the Board Member of Advisors
of Yoga Bharati.
DR PADMA VENKAT
Dr.Padma Venkatasubramanian, M.S.c., PhD(Cantab) is the Director of Institute of
Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (I-AIM) Dr. Padma Venkatasubramanian is alumnus of
Queens’ College, Cambridge, UK. She received the prestigious Cambridge-Nehru Merit
Scholarship for her doctoral degree at University of Cambridge, UK. She was awarded PhD in
the year 1990 for her study on the biochemical and molecular aspects of Bacillus subtilis
spore germination. Dr. Venkatasubramanian’s contribution in terms of developing an
inexpensive copper based device that has enormous potential application in microbial
purification of drinking water across rural areas and urban slums of developing countries, is
worthy of mention. She has innovated a copper device called as Jal-bandhu, is possibly the
world’s cheapest solution to point-of-use microbial purification of water. Dr.
Venkatasubramanian has also developed a field diagnostic kit for authentication of medicinal
plants and semi-quantification of active ingredients and holds a patent on this. She is an
accredited PhD guide for Manipal University and SASTRA University, Tanjore. She has over 27
peer reviewed publications and 2 patents. A total of 23 products have been conceptualized
and developed by her.
DR RAJAT AGRAWAL
Rajat N. Agrawal, M.D. is an Ophthalmologist & Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon. He is the Co-Inventor
of Artificial Retina for blind people (called the Bionic eye or artificial eye). He is currently
Asst. Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Director of the Centre for Retinal Degenerative
Diseases, Study Director of the Artificial Retina Implant Project, and Co-Director of
Intraocular Implants at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los
Angeles, California. Dr. Agrawal received his Medical degree (MBBS) from Government
Medical College, Nagpur, India, followed by an Ophthalmology residency in Mumbai, India,
and certification by the National Board (Ophthalmology). He underwent Fellowship training
in Vitreo-Retinal Diseases and Surgery at the Medical Research Foundation (Sankara
Nethralaya), Chennai, India, and worked at a Consultant Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon for more
than 7 years, involved in clinical care, research and teaching and training retina fellows and
residents. He was later invited to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and by the
Government of the Commonwealth of Bahamas to teach and train local ophthalmologists in
retinal surgical techniques. Dr. Agrawal was later recruited into the Doheny Eye Institute in
Los Angeles in 2003, where he is currently based. In addition to the routine clinical work, he
is significantly involved in the Artificial Retinal Implant project, which aims at perfecting a
complex artificial retinal device that will allow patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa
and age-related macular degeneration see again. In addition, he is also involved in
developing techniques for using stem cells in retinal degenerative disorders, development of
nano-drug delivery devices, surgical instrumentation and newer surgical techniques.
DR KAUSHIK DILIP DEB
Dr. Kaushik Dilip Deb: is a MD in Alternative and Complementary Medicine, from the Indian
Institute of Alternative Medicine (IIAM), M.S, and Ph.D in Medical Biotechnology. Did his PostDoctoral in Stem cells and Tissue engineering at Medical centers in the USA and Canada.. He
completed his executive management education from the Indian Institute of Management –
Bangalore (IIM-B). He was awarded the DBT’s overseas associateship in niche areas of
biotechnology, and was awarded the Indian National Academy of Sciences (INSA)- bilateral
exchange award with the Czech Science Academy. He has worked as scientist as-well-as at senior
management positions in stem cell biotech companies in India. Dr. Deb is carrying out research in
the areas of nanobiotechnology, cancer immunotherapies, chronic allergy and pain, implantable
biomedical devices, screening herbal components and traditional Ayurvedic etc., preparations in
tissue regeneration rejuvenation and cancer.. He has published several peer reviewed research
papers and book chapters, and is also an active reviewer and Editoral Board member for 5
international publishing houses. He is the founder of Association of Cell Transplantation Surgeons
and Scientists (ACTS). He is the author of the book entitled “Stem Cells; Basic and Applications” by
McGraw Hill New Delhi and “Stem cell Technologies” by McGraw Hill, New Jersey, USA. He is
actively involved in evaluating biotechnology and biopharma business and research proposals for
Debt / PE funding, as the venture partner India , for Angelico Biotechnology ventures, UK.
DR SHIRDI PRASAD TEKUR
Dr Shirdi Prasad Tekur has been in General & Paediatric practice at
Bangalore Urban since 1982 in areas of Community Health,
Alternative systems of Health care, Herbal medicine, Holistic
Counseling, Mind management, Spiritual development. Worked in
Disaster management situations at Bangladesh 1991 – post cyclone,
SriLanka 1992 – post IPKF operations & 2005 post Tsunami. He was a
part of Bangalore NGO response during Uttarkashi, Surat, Latur
earthquakes. He worked in area of Disability and Community based
rehabilitation with Leonard Cheshire International, SRMNAB,
Narendra foundation, Samarthya and other NGOs. He has been a
trainer-of-trainers with National level NGO networks like VHAI, CHAI
and CMAI &State level networks like VHAK, Fevord-K
DR RAM MANOHAR
Dr. Ram Manohar is currently the Director and CSO, AVP Research Foundation and also the
Managing Editor, Ancient Science of Life, Quarterly Research Journal on Ayurveda, The
Ayurvedic Trust, Coimbatore. He is widely known for his contributions to streamlining
research in Ayurveda, the most pioneering one being the National Institutes of Health, US
funded project on collaborative research for Ayurveda that for the very first time
demonstrated that conventional Double-blind, Randomized, Controlled studies can be
adapted in Ayurveda with a study on Rheumatoid Arthritis, that has been published in the
Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. He has many publications in peer reviewed and other
journals, has presented in numerous national and international conferences and is also the
author many book chapters. He was the Co Author of paper of study on Ayurveda in
Rheumatoid Arthritis that was selected for “Excellence in Integrative Medicine Research
Award” by European Society of Integrative Medicine, 21 September, 2012.Dr. Ram Manohar
has indepth knowledge of Ayurveda scriptures and is also very adept at translating them for
contemporary relevance, be it research or clinical practice.
DR NAVEEN VISWESWARAIAH
Naveen Kalkuni Visweswaraiah completed a five year medical degree in Yoga and
Naturopathy (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, i.e., B.N.Y.S.) from University of
Mangalore and registered as ‘Naturopathy physician & yoga therapist’. Subsequently
completed his Ph.D. in 2005 with a thesis entitled ‘Psychophysiology of meditation including
responses to external stimuli’ under the guidance of Shirley Telles, from faculty of Science,
Bangalore University, Bangalore. Currently he is the Joint Director of Research and Co-Head
of ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Yoga and Neurophysiology and a project under
Cognitive Science Research Initiative of Department of Science & Technology. Dr.
Visweswaraiah has 30 research publications related to above mentioned 4 areas of research
and 4 chapters in books. He is also a Executive Director of ‘Foundation for Assessment and
Integration of Traditional Health Systems [FAITHS] a registered research trust committed to
evidence based practice of Indian medicine and its’ integration with the mainstream health
care.