Abstract
(1 March 1948–2 January 2025)
Professor Ramachandran Balaraman, who served as the Vice President (2008–2009) of the Indian Pharmacological Society, the Assistant Editor of the Indian Journal of Pharmacology for the years 2001–2006, and also as the President of the Vadodara Chapter of the Indian Pharmacological Society, left heavenly abode after a brief illness on January 2, 2025. He was born on March 1, 1948. Dr. Balaraman was an alumnus of Madras Medical College, where he had his graduation and also his postgraduation in pharmacology. He got his PhD under the luminary teacher, Professor O. D. Gulati, from the Medical College, Baroda, in 1987.
Dr. Balaraman had an illustrious career in pharmacology. He started as a scientist at the Sarabhai Research Centre, Baroda, and later joined The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where he spent about 35 years and finally retired as the Head of the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Technology and Engineering. He later served as Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara.
Professor Balaraman was a dedicated researcher, committed administrator, and also a popular teacher with over 40 years of service in teaching and research. He guided 21 students for PhD and 71 for MPharm. Professor Balaraman was a Fellow of the Indian Pharmacological Society and the National Academy of Medical Science, New Delhi. He was the recipient of several awards at the national and international level, including the Dr. N. S. Dhalla Oration Award, Dr. (Mrs.) Lalitha Kameswaran Oration Award, and Kanan Ishwar Mehta Lecture Oration Award from the Department of Pharmacy, MS University of Baroda, Vadodara, on January 29, 2015.
He published around 300 original research articles in several reputed international journals. He also served as Section Editor for the past 2 years in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. His area of research was cardiovascular pharmacology and toxicology. He carried out work on metal toxicity, especially lead toxicity, and established an animal model for hypertension. He had a patent on Bis-Curcumino-Oxo-Vanadium, an anti-diabetic vanadium complex. He has contributed as a co-author and co-editor of a few books. One of these books, in which he contributed as a co-editor, “The Topics in History of Pharmacology,” is a multi-authored book having chapters from leading pharmacologists from India and the USA. During his tenure as the President of the Indian Pharmacological Society, Vadodara Chapter, India, he organized an international symposium on “Translational Research in Cardiovascular Medicine” on December 11, 2008, at Vadodara. In addition, he delivered several invited lectures all across the country.
As a revered leader, mentor, and guide, he put an indelible mark with his commitment and dedication toward the betterment of the pharmacy profession.
The pharmacy profession has lost a dynamic leader, enthusiastic researcher, and a dedicated, popular teacher in pharmaceutical sciences, particularly a great pharmacologist who was highly respected by fellow professionals, his colleagues, and students.
All his PhD and PG students along with close professional associates like Professor R. K. Goyal offer deepest condolences and prayers for the departed soul through this article.
