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{{Short description|Indian scientist}}
{{Short description|Indian scientist (1948–2023)}}
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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
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{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
|name              = M. R. S. Rao
| name              = M. R. S. Rao
|image            =Prof MRS Rao -Lab Office.JPG
| image            = Prof MRS Rao -Lab Office.JPG
|image_size      =
| caption          = Rao in 2010
|caption          =
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=y|1948|01|21|}}
|birth_date        = 21 January 1948 (age 74)
| birth_place      = [[Mysore]], [[Mysore State]], [[Dominion of India|India]]
|birth_place      = [[Mysore]]
| death_date        = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|08|13|1948|01|21}}
|death_date        =
| death_place      = [[Bangaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India
|death_place      =
| citizenship      =  
|residence        = [[Bangalore]]
| field            = [[Biological Sciences]]
|citizenship      =
| work_institution  = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]]
|nationality      = Indian
| alma_mater        = [[Bangalore University]]<br>[[Indian Institute of Science]]
|ethnicity        =
| doctoral_advisor  = [[G. Padmanabhan]]
|field            = [[Biological Sciences]]
| doctoral_students = [[Tapas Kumar Kundu]] [[B. J. Rao]]
|work_institution  = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]]
| known_for        = [[Chromatin]] Biology and Cancer Biology
|alma_mater        = [[Indian Institute of Science]]
| author_abbrev_bot =  
|doctoral_advisor  = [[G. Padmanabhan]]
| author_abbrev_zoo =  
|doctoral_students = [[Tapas Kumar Kundu]] [[Subi Jacob George]]
| influences        =  
|known_for        = [[Chromatin]] Biology and Cancer Biology
| influenced        =  
|author_abbrev_bot =
| prizes            = [[Padma Shri]] (2010) and [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]](1988)
|author_abbrev_zoo =
| footnotes        =  
|influences        =
| signature        =  
|influenced        =
|prizes            = [[Padma Shri]] (2010) and [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]](1988)
|religion          = [[Hindu]]
|footnotes        =
|signature        =
}}
}}


'''Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao''' known by the abbreviation '''M. R. S. Rao''', is an Indian scientist, born on 21 January 1948 at [[Mysore]], India. He has been awarded the fourth highest civilian award [[Padma Shri]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma awardees list at www.india.gov.in|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/celebration2.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Padma awardees information at Public Bureau Information (PIB) web portal, Government of India|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57307}}</ref> in Science and Engineering category (year 2010) by the [[Government of India]]. He was the President<ref>{{cite web|title=Message from President, JNCASR|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao}}</ref> of [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR) in [[Bangalore]], India (2003-2013).
'''Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao''' (21 January 1948 – 13 August 2023) was an Indian scientist. He was awarded the fourth-highest civilian award, the [[Padma Shri]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma awardees list at www.india.gov.in|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/celebration2.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Padma awardees information at Public Bureau Information (PIB) web portal, Government of India|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57307}}</ref> for Science and Engineering in 2010. From 2003 to 2013 he was president of [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR) in [[Bangalore]], India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Message from President, JNCASR |url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao}}</ref>


==Education and personal life==
==Education and personal life==
Rao obtained his bachelor's degree (BSc) in 1966 and master's degree (MSc) in 1968 from [[Bangalore University]]. He received his PhD in [[biochemistry]] from [[Indian Institute of Science]] (IISc), [[Bangalore]] in 1973. [[Govindarajan Padmanabhan]] (Former Director, IISc) was his doctoral advisor at Department of Biochemistry. He did his [[postdoctoral research]] at [[Baylor College of Medicine]], [[Houston]], Texas, USA, (1974–76) and was as assistant professor at the same institution. He decided to come back to [[India]] and joined Department of Biochemistry, [[Indian Institute of Science]] (IISc).
Rao obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1966 and Master's of Science degree in 1968 from [[Bangalore University]]. He received his Ph.D. in [[biochemistry]] from the [[Indian Institute of Science]] (IISc), [[Bangalore]] in 1973. Former IISc Director [[Govindarajan Padmanabhan]] was his doctoral advisor at the Department of Biochemistry. From 1974 to 1976 he was an assistant professor at [[Baylor College of Medicine]] in [[Houston]], Texas, where he performed his [[postdoctoral research]]. He later returned to India and joined the Department of Biochemistry at IISc as a faculty.


At present, he is an Honorary Professor<ref>{{cite web|title=Academic Advisory Council, JNCASR|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao}}</ref> at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR), [[Bangalore]] and actively running [[Chromatin]] [[Biology]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Chromatin Biology Laboratory of Prof. M.R.S. Rao|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/pmessage.php}}</ref> laboratory. He has been credited as first scientist to initiate [[Chromatin]] Biology research in [[India]]. In more than 30 years of active research career, his lab at [[IISc]] and [[JNCASR]], has mentored<ref>{{cite web|title=Alumni information of Chromatin Biology Lab, IISc/JNCASR|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao/index.php?menu_id=10&user_id=21&page_id=371}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Present lab members of Chromatin Biology Lab, JNCASR|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao/index.php?menu_id=9&user_id=21&page_id=370}}</ref> more than 35 PhD students, dozens of [[Postdoctoral]] fellows and hundreds of research trainees.
Rao was an honorary professor at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR), Bangalore and was actively running its [[Chromatin]] Biology<ref>{{cite web|title=Chromatin Biology Laboratory of Prof. M.R.S. Rao|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/pmessage.php}}</ref> laboratory until his death. He has been credited as the first scientist to initiate Chromatin Biology research in [[India]]. During his research career, his lab at IISc and JNCASR, has mentored many Ph.D. students, [[postdoctoral]] fellows, and research trainees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alumni information of Chromatin Biology Lab, IISc/JNCASR |url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao/index.php?menu_id=10&user_id=21&page_id=371 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804084438/http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao/index.php?menu_id=10&user_id=21&page_id=371 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=Chromatin Biology Lab Moleculer Biology and Genetics Unit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Present lab members of Chromatin Biology Lab, JNCASR |url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao/index.php?menu_id=9&user_id=21&page_id=370 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804071047/http://www.jncasr.ac.in/mrsrao/index.php?menu_id=9&user_id=21&page_id=370 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=Chromatin Biology Lab Moleculer Biology and Genetics Unit}}</ref>


Rao is married to Padma S. Rao and the couple has two sons, M. S. Sharat and M. S. Rohan, both engineers by profession. The happy family lives in [[Bangalore]].
Rao was married to Padma S. Rao with whom he had two sons. Rao died on 13 August 2023, at the age of 75.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eminent scientist Padma Shri MRS Rao passes away in Bengaluru at 75 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2023/aug/14/eminent-scientistpadma-shri-mrs-rao-passes-away-in-bengaluru-at-75-2605157.html |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=14 August 2023}}</ref>


==Professional life==
==Professional life==
[[Image:Dr Manmohan Singh with Prof CNR Rao and Prof MRS Rao at JNCASR.JPG|thumb|Rao with [[Manmohan Singh]], Prime Minister of India; [[B.S. Yeddyurappa]], Chief Minister of [[Karnataka]] and [[C. N. R. Rao]] during a function at [[JNCASR]], Bangalore.]]
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2023}}[[Image:Dr Manmohan Singh with Prof CNR Rao and Prof MRS Rao at JNCASR.JPG|thumb|Rao with [[Manmohan Singh]], Prime Minister of India; [[B.S. Yeddyurappa]], Chief Minister of [[Karnataka]]; and [[C. N. R. Rao]] during a function at JNCASR, Bangalore.]]


After having his [[postdoctoral research]] and short stint of assistant professorship at [[Baylor College of Medicine]], US, he returned to [[India]] in 1978 and joined the Department of Biochemistry, [[IISc]] as assistant professor. He was promoted to [[associate professor]] in 1987 and professor in 1991. He was the chairman of Centre for Genetic Engineering, [[IISc]] between 1990–93. For several occasions, he served as visiting professor to [[Baylor College of Medicine]], [[Harvard Medical School]], [[Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research]] and [[University of California at San Diego]], US.
After his [[postdoctoral research]] and assistant professorship at Baylor College of Medicine, he returned to India in 1978 and joined the IISc's Department of Biochemistry as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and professor in 1991. He was the chairman of IISc's Centre for Genetic Engineering from 1990 to 1993. On several occasions, he served as a visiting professor at [[Baylor College of Medicine]] (1983, 1986), [[Harvard Medical School]] (1988–1990, 1993), [[Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research]], and [[University of California at San Diego]] (1998).


In 2003, he accepted the chair of President of [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR), Jakkur, [[Bangalore]]. He was the chairperson of Department of Biochemistry, [[IISc]] (1998–2003) and Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit (MBGU, JNCASR) between 2005–09. He has served as President of Society of Biological Chemists (India) for two terms between 2000–04. M.R.S. Rao has been associated as a governing body member or as a scientific advisor to several research institutes in India. He is the Ex-Chairman of Board of Governors of [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala.
In 2003, he was appointed chair and president of [[Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research]] (JNCASR), [[Bangalore]]. He was the chairperson of IISc's Department of Biochemistry (1998–2003) and Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit from 2005 to 2009. He served as president of the Society of Biological Chemists (India) for two terms between 2000 and 2004. Rao was a governing body member and scientific advisor to several research institutes in India. He was a former chairman of the Board of Governors of [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala. He was a member of the Board of Governors of [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata]]; chairman of the Research Council of [[Indian Institute of Chemical Biology]], Kolkata; and member of the Selection/Search Committee of [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research|CSIR]] Directors.
Rao served as a chairperson or subject matter expert for several scientific councils and academies, such as [[Department of Science and Technology (India)|Department of Science and Technology]]; [[Department of Biotechnology]]; [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]]; [[Indian Council of Medical Research]]; [[Indian Academy of Sciences]]; [[National Academy of Sciences, India]]; [[Indian National Science Academy]]; [[Third World Academy of Sciences]]; and science policy-making committees in [[Government of India]] organisations, institutions and universities. He was the chairperson for the Task Force on Human Genetics & Genome Analysis at the Department of Biotechnology, India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chairperson of Task Force on Human Genetics & Genome Analysis, DBT- India |url=http://dbtindia.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=180 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316083008/https://dbtindia.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=180 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=Department of Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology}}</ref> He was also a member of the governing body of the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore. He served as a member of the academic council of Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Bangalore.<ref>{{cite web|title=Academic Council Member of Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research|url=http://www.ppisr.res.in/council.html|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721181121/http://ppisr.res.in/council.html|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


He has served as chairperson or expert member of several scientific councils such as [[Department of Science and Technology (India)|Department of Science and Technology]], [[Department of Biotechnology]] (DBT), [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]] (CSIR), [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] (ICMR); Science academies such as [[Indian Academy of Sciences]] (IAS), [[National Academy of Sciences, India]] (NASI), [[Indian National Science Academy]] (INSA), [[Third World Academy of Sciences]] ([[TWAS]]) and science policy making committees in [[Government of India]] organisations, Institutions and Universities in India. He is also active member of [[Third World Academy of Sciences]] (TWAS) activities. He is the chairperson<ref>{{cite web|title=Chairperson of Task Force on Human Genetics & Genome Analysis, DBT- India|url=http://dbtindia.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=180}}</ref> of Task Force on Human Genetics & Genome Analysis of [[Department of Biotechnology]], (DBT) India. He is member<ref>{{cite web|title=Governing body member of Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB)|url=http://www.ibab.ac.in/abt_governing_body.htm|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217082344/http://www.ibab.ac.in/abt_governing_body.htm|archive-date=17 February 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> of Governing body of Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore. He is also serving as member<ref>{{cite web|title=Academic Council Member of Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research|url=http://www.ppisr.res.in/council.html|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721181121/http://ppisr.res.in/council.html|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> of academic council of Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Bangalore.
In 2010, Rao was appointed a member of the National Science and Engineering Research Board, which supports innovation, research and development in various sciences in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gazette of India notification dated June 11, 2010 |url=http://www.dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/SERB_BOARD_NOTIFICATION-MEMBER.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122024700/http://dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/SERB_BOARD_NOTIFICATION-MEMBER.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2010 |access-date=13 October 2010}}</ref>


Rao has been appointed as a member<ref>{{cite web|title=The Gazette of India notification dated June 11, 2010|url=http://www.dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/SERB_BOARD_NOTIFICATION-MEMBER.pdf|access-date=13 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122024700/http://dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/SERB_BOARD_NOTIFICATION-MEMBER.pdf|archive-date=22 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the newly constituted National Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) which will support innovation, research and development in various sciences in India.
Rao was on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed journals, including as senior member on the editorial board of the American Journal of Cancer Research (AJCR).<ref>{{cite journal|title= Senior Editorial Board Member of American Journal of Cancer Research | journal=American Journal of Cancer Research| issn=2156-6976|url=http://www.ajcr.us/EditorialBoard.html}}</ref>
 
He is on the editorial board of several high repute peer reviewed journals and recently has joined as senior member on the editorial board of American Journal of Cancer Research (AJCR).<ref>{{cite journal|title= Senior Editorial Board Member of American Journal of Cancer Research | journal=American Journal of Cancer Research| issn=2156-6976|url=http://www.ajcr.us/EditorialBoard.html}}</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==
Rao is a prolific scientific researcher and author of hundreds of peer reviewed international journal articles. Several research articles have been cited extensively throughout the world scientific community. Most of his research work has been focused on [[Chromatin]] biology and Cancer biology.
Rao was a scientific researcher and author of many peer-reviewed and oft-cited international journal articles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} Most of his research work had been focused on [[Chromatin]] biology and Cancer biology.


Rao has an [[h-index]] of above 26 (as per June 2011) and it's still in logarithmic phase and heading up continuously. One of his publication<ref>{{cite web|title= The human mutator gene homolog MSH2 and its association with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, Cell, 1993; Vol 75(5):1027–1038|url=http://www.cell.com/abstract/0092-8674(93)90546-3}}</ref> over [[colon cancer]], published in [[Cell (journal)]] has extensive [[citations]] of more than 2000 so far.
{{As of|2023|August}}, his 1993 publication<ref>{{cite journal|title= The human mutator gene homolog MSH2 and its association with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, Cell, 1993; Vol 75(5):1027–1038|journal=Cell |date=3 December 1993 |volume=75 |issue=5 |pages=1027–1038 |doi=10.1016/0092-8674(93)90546-3 |pmid=8252616 |url=http://www.cell.com/abstract/0092-8674(93)90546-3 |last1=Fishel |first1=Richard |last2=Lescoe |first2=Mary Kay |last3=Rao |first3=M. R. S. |last4=Copeland |first4=Neal G. |last5=Jenkins |first5=Nancy A. |last6=Garber |first6=Judy |last7=Kane |first7=Michael |last8=Kolodner |first8=Richard |s2cid=46235760 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> on [[colon cancer]], published in [[Cell (journal)]], has been [[citations|cited]] over 3700 times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Scholar |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,33&q=%22The+human+mutator+gene+homolog+MSH2+and+its+association+with+hereditary+nonpolyposis+colon+cancer%22&btnG= |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=scholar.google.com}}</ref>


==Awards and recognitions==
==Awards and recognitions==
Rao has received several medals, awards and fellowships both in India and overseas. He has been awarded the [[Padma Shri]] (year 2010) by [[Government of India]] for his immense contribution in Science and Engineering to the country. He has received the coveted [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Handbook of Shanti Swarup Bhatanagar Prize winners (1958–1998)|url= https://www.scribd.com/doc/13729624/Bhatnagar-Prize-Winner|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111028213140/http://www.scribd.com/doc/13729624/Bhatnagar-Prize-Winner|archive-date= 28 October 2011|df= dmy-all}}</ref> (Year 1988) from the [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]] (CSIR), the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award<ref>{{cite web|title= Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award (Year 2004–2005) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)|url= http://www.icmr.nic.in/award/award2005.pdf|access-date= 31 August 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180107062831/http://www.icmr.nic.in/award/award2005.pdf|archive-date= 7 January 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref> from the [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] (2005), the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture award of the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (INSA), the [[FICCI]] Award, the J. C. Bose Medal of INSA, a [[Rockefeller Foundation]] Biotechnology Fellowship, the Om Prakash Bhasin Award, the [[Third World Academy of Sciences]] (TWAS) Medal Lecture Award 2008, the [[Ranbaxy]] Science Foundation Award for Basic Medical Sciences, and the Sir M. Visveswaraiah Senior Scientist State award from the [[Government of Karnataka]]. He received the Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Award, 2011,<ref>{{cite web|title= Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Award (Year 2011) of the Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association (IIScAA)|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/newsview.php?id=135}}</ref> an award instituted by the Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association (IIScAA), Bangalore.
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2023}}
Rao had received several medals, awards and fellowships both in India and abroad. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 2010 for his contribution to Science and Engineering. He received the [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]] in 1988 from the [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]] (CSIR),<ref>{{cite web |title=Handbook of Shanti Swarup Bhatanagar Prize winners (1958–1998) |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/13729624/Bhatnagar-Prize-Winner |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028213140/http://www.scribd.com/doc/13729624/Bhatnagar-Prize-Winner |archive-date=28 October 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award from the [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] in 2005,<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award (Year 2004–2005) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) |url=http://www.icmr.nic.in/award/award2005.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107062831/http://www.icmr.nic.in/award/award2005.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2018 |access-date=31 August 2011}}</ref> the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture award from the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (INSA), the [[FICCI]] Award, the J. C. Bose Medal of INSA, a [[Rockefeller Foundation]] Biotechnology Fellowship, the Om Prakash Bhasin Award, the [[Third World Academy of Sciences]] (TWAS) Medal Lecture Award 2008, the [[Ranbaxy]] Science Foundation Award for Basic Medical Sciences, and the Sir M. Visveswaraiah Senior Scientist State award from the [[Government of Karnataka]]. He received the Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Award in 2011,<ref>{{cite web|title= Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Award (Year 2011) of the Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association (IIScAA)|url=http://www.jncasr.ac.in/newsview.php?id=135}}</ref> an award given by the Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association (IIScAA), Bangalore.


He is a fellow of the [[Indian Academy of Sciences]] (IAS), Bangalore; the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (INSA), Delhi; the [[National Academy of Sciences, India]] (NASI), [[Allahabad]]; the [[National Academy of Medical Sciences]] (FAMS), India; the [[Third World Academy of Science]] (TWAS), [[Trieste, Italy]]; the [[American Society for Cell Biology]], the [[American Society for Microbiology]], the [[American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology]] and the [[Human Genome Organization]].
Rao was a fellow of the [[Indian Academy of Sciences]] (IAS), Bangalore; the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (INSA), Delhi; the [[National Academy of Sciences, India]] (NASI), [[Allahabad]]; the [[National Academy of Medical Sciences]] (FAMS), India; the [[Third World Academy of Science]] (TWAS), [[Trieste, Italy]]; the [[American Society for Cell Biology]], the [[American Society for Microbiology]], the [[American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology]], and the [[Human Genome Organization]].


==References==
==References==
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{{commons category|M. R. S. Rao}}
{{commons category|M. R. S. Rao}}


{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{2000s Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{SSBPST recipients in Biological Science}}
{{SSBPST recipients in Biological Science}}
{{Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Laureates of Karnataka}}
{{Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Laureates of Karnataka}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, M. R. S.}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology]]
[[Category:Bangalore University alumni]]
[[Category:Bangalore University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Science alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Science alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Science faculty]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the Indian Institute of Science]]
[[Category:Scientists from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Scientists from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Fellows of The National Academy of Sciences, India]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Sciences, India]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Medical Sciences]]
[[Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Medical Sciences]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian chemists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian chemists]]
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[[Category:Indian biochemists]]
[[Category:Indian biochemists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Biological Science]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Biological Science]]
[[Category:Om Prakash Bhasin Award recipients]]

Latest revision as of 20:37, 5 March 2026


M. R. S. Rao
Rao in 2010
Born(1948-01-21)21 January 1948
Mysore, Mysore State, India
Died13 August 2023(2023-08-13) (aged 75)
Bangaluru, Karnataka, India
Alma materBangalore University
Indian Institute of Science
Known forChromatin Biology and Cancer Biology
AwardsPadma Shri (2010) and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology(1988)
Scientific career
FieldsBiological Sciences
InstitutionsJawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
Doctoral advisorG. Padmanabhan
Doctoral studentsTapas Kumar Kundu B. J. Rao

Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao (21 January 1948 – 13 August 2023) was an Indian scientist. He was awarded the fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri,[1][2] for Science and Engineering in 2010. From 2003 to 2013 he was president of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bangalore, India.[3]

Education and personal life[edit | edit source]

Rao obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1966 and Master's of Science degree in 1968 from Bangalore University. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore in 1973. Former IISc Director Govindarajan Padmanabhan was his doctoral advisor at the Department of Biochemistry. From 1974 to 1976 he was an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he performed his postdoctoral research. He later returned to India and joined the Department of Biochemistry at IISc as a faculty.

Rao was an honorary professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore and was actively running its Chromatin Biology[4] laboratory until his death. He has been credited as the first scientist to initiate Chromatin Biology research in India. During his research career, his lab at IISc and JNCASR, has mentored many Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and research trainees.[5][6]

Rao was married to Padma S. Rao with whom he had two sons. Rao died on 13 August 2023, at the age of 75.[7]

Professional life[edit | edit source]

Rao with Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India; B.S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka; and C. N. R. Rao during a function at JNCASR, Bangalore.

After his postdoctoral research and assistant professorship at Baylor College of Medicine, he returned to India in 1978 and joined the IISc's Department of Biochemistry as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and professor in 1991. He was the chairman of IISc's Centre for Genetic Engineering from 1990 to 1993. On several occasions, he served as a visiting professor at Baylor College of Medicine (1983, 1986), Harvard Medical School (1988–1990, 1993), Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and University of California at San Diego (1998).

In 2003, he was appointed chair and president of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore. He was the chairperson of IISc's Department of Biochemistry (1998–2003) and Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit from 2005 to 2009. He served as president of the Society of Biological Chemists (India) for two terms between 2000 and 2004. Rao was a governing body member and scientific advisor to several research institutes in India. He was a former chairman of the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was a member of the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata; chairman of the Research Council of Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata; and member of the Selection/Search Committee of CSIR Directors.

Rao served as a chairperson or subject matter expert for several scientific councils and academies, such as Department of Science and Technology; Department of Biotechnology; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; Indian Council of Medical Research; Indian Academy of Sciences; National Academy of Sciences, India; Indian National Science Academy; Third World Academy of Sciences; and science policy-making committees in Government of India organisations, institutions and universities. He was the chairperson for the Task Force on Human Genetics & Genome Analysis at the Department of Biotechnology, India.[8] He was also a member of the governing body of the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore. He served as a member of the academic council of Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Bangalore.[9]

In 2010, Rao was appointed a member of the National Science and Engineering Research Board, which supports innovation, research and development in various sciences in India.[10]

Rao was on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed journals, including as senior member on the editorial board of the American Journal of Cancer Research (AJCR).[11]

Publications[edit | edit source]

Rao was a scientific researcher and author of many peer-reviewed and oft-cited international journal articles.[citation needed] Most of his research work had been focused on Chromatin biology and Cancer biology.

As of August 2023, his 1993 publication[12] on colon cancer, published in Cell (journal), has been cited over 3700 times.[13]

Awards and recognitions[edit | edit source]

Rao had received several medals, awards and fellowships both in India and abroad. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contribution to Science and Engineering. He received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in 1988 from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),[14] the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award from the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2005,[15] the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture award from the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the FICCI Award, the J. C. Bose Medal of INSA, a Rockefeller Foundation Biotechnology Fellowship, the Om Prakash Bhasin Award, the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Medal Lecture Award 2008, the Ranbaxy Science Foundation Award for Basic Medical Sciences, and the Sir M. Visveswaraiah Senior Scientist State award from the Government of Karnataka. He received the Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Award in 2011,[16] an award given by the Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association (IIScAA), Bangalore.

Rao was a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), Bangalore; the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Delhi; the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Allahabad; the National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS), India; the Third World Academy of Science (TWAS), Trieste, Italy; the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society for Microbiology, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Human Genome Organization.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Padma awardees list at www.india.gov.in".
  2. ↑ "Padma awardees information at Public Bureau Information (PIB) web portal, Government of India".
  3. ↑ "Message from President, JNCASR".
  4. ↑ "Chromatin Biology Laboratory of Prof. M.R.S. Rao".
  5. ↑ "Alumni information of Chromatin Biology Lab, IISc/JNCASR". Chromatin Biology Lab Moleculer Biology and Genetics Unit. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Present lab members of Chromatin Biology Lab, JNCASR". Chromatin Biology Lab Moleculer Biology and Genetics Unit. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Eminent scientist Padma Shri MRS Rao passes away in Bengaluru at 75". The New Indian Express. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Chairperson of Task Force on Human Genetics & Genome Analysis, DBT- India". Department of Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Academic Council Member of Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  10. ↑ "The Gazette of India notification dated June 11, 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  11. ↑ "Senior Editorial Board Member of American Journal of Cancer Research". American Journal of Cancer Research. ISSN 2156-6976.
  12. ↑ Fishel, Richard; Lescoe, Mary Kay; Rao, M. R. S.; Copeland, Neal G.; Jenkins, Nancy A.; Garber, Judy; Kane, Michael; Kolodner, Richard (3 December 1993). "The human mutator gene homolog MSH2 and its association with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, Cell, 1993; Vol 75(5):1027–1038". Cell. 75 (5): 1027–1038. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(93)90546-3. PMID 8252616. S2CID 46235760.
  13. ↑ "Google Scholar". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Handbook of Shanti Swarup Bhatanagar Prize winners (1958–1998)". Archived from the original on 28 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award (Year 2004–2005) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Prof. N. Appaji Rao Best Mentor Award (Year 2011) of the Indian Institute of Science Alumni Association (IIScAA)".

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:2000s Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering

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