National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) - NAMS (India)

Prof. Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, FAMS
D.Phil(Oxon), FNA, FRCP(Edin), FIMSA, DSc(h.c.)
Professor Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, Emeritus Scientist at the National Institute of Immunology,
New Delhi since 1991 and former Professor of Pharmacology and Dean at the PGI,
Chandigarh has had a distinguished career as a medical educationist, and a leading research
worker. He is also recognized as a health policy planner. He completed his medical studies at
the Prince of Wales Medical College, Patna in 1954 and proceeded to Oxford on a Rhodes
Scholarship-the first doctor from India to obtain this coveted scholarship. After obtaining the
D.Phil degree he returned to India and worked first at the AIIMS and then at the PGI,
Chandigarh – with a spell of deputation at the World Health Organization.
His successful effort in modifying the conventional approach to clinical evaluation of herbal
remedies has led to significant changes in the methodology adopted and has helped in
drastically curtailing the time required for carrying out such studies. Currently, in his
capacity as the Chairman of the ICMR Scientific Advisory Group on Traditional Medicine
since 1991 Professor Roy Chaudhury, using this modified approach, has been able to
significantly contribute to the national effort in clinical evaluation of medicinal plants
effective against various diseases.
His original research in the field of reproductive pharmacology on the mechanism of action
of intrauterine devices has won global recognition. In view of the need for a herbal oral
contraceptive in India – which would be very acceptable to the people, Professor Roy
Chaudhury and his team investigated one hundred plants and identified six of these for
further work. One such plant combination is now, after extensive standardization, acute and
subacute and teratology studies, going to be clinically evaluated at three centres.
Professor Roy Chaudhury’s expertise in Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and
Toxicology is extensively being used by organizations such as the ICMR, CSIR and the
Department of Biotechnology. He was the first Chairman of the Toxicology Review Panel of
ICMR in 1978 and, after his retirement in 1990, has again been Chairman since 1991. He is
now Chairman of the Sub-committee of the Ethical Committee on clinical trials of drugs,
medicinal plants, vaccines and diagnostics.
He has received many awards as recognition of his work. These include the prestigious S.S.
Bhatnagar Award, Dr. B.C. Roy Award, the Amrut ModiAward of UNITRUST.
In 1998, the President of India, in recognition of his services to medical education and
research awarded him the Padma Shri.
Area of specialization: Clinical Pharmacology
Address: Y-85, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016. Tel: (011) Off: 26717121 to 7145,
26165733, 26717110, Res: 26856524, Fax: 26165776, Mobile: 9810155705,
dsprud@satyam.net.in
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