Shanta S. Rao

Shanta S. Rao (23 January 1923 – 3 December 1979) was an Indian medical researcher.

This article is about the scientist born in 1923; for the dancer born in 1930, see Shanta Rao.
Shanta S. Rao
BornJanuary 23, 1923
DiedDecember 3, 1979
OccupationScientist, medical researcher

Early life

Rao graduated from Maharani College in Bangalore in 1943.[1] She earned a master's degree from the University of Toronto in 1949, and completed doctoral studies in 1953, at Bombay University.[2]

Career

Rao's research started in the field of toxicology, studying proteolytic enzymes in the venom from various snake species.[3] In 1956, she joined the Indian Cancer Research Center as a biochemist, and studied leprosy.[2] Her field in later life was reproductive immunology; she studied human chorionic gonadotropin,[4] and the presence of antigens in sperm as a cause for infertility.[5][6]

Rao was a member of the faculty in pathology and pharmacology at Bombay University.[1] In 1961, she was a founding executive board member of the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction.[7] From 1977 until her death, she was director of the Institute for Research on Reproduction, under the Indian Council of Medical Research.[2] She worked with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and with the World Health Organization, serving on WHO's Committee on Immunological Aspects of Reproduction.[1]

Rao's research was published in international academic journals including Endocrinology,[8] Contraception,[9] Andrologia,[10] American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,[4] European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,[11] The Journal of Urology,[12] Nature[13] and Experientia.[14] In 1960, she won the Shakuntala Devi Amirchand Prize in 1960.[1] In 1963, she was one of the four Indian scientists to win the G. J. Watumull Memorial Prize, for her work in family planning.[15][16] In 1965, she won a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to visit reproductive physiology laboratories in Europe and Israel.[17] In 1971, she won Bulgaria's Metchnikoff Medal.[1]

Personal life and legacy

Rao died in 1979, aged 56 years, from leukemia.[2][3][18][19] There is a Shanta S. Rao Award given in her memory by the National Institute of Research in Reproductive Health.[6] There is also a Dr. Shanta S. Rao Memorial Girls Hostel near the Institute for Research in Reproduction in Mumbai.[20]

References
  1. Chattopadhyay, Anjana (2018). Women Scientists in India: Lives, Struggles & Achievements (PDF). National Book Trust, India. ISBN 978-81-237-8144-0.
  2. "In Memoriam: Dr. Shanta S. Rao January 23, 1923—December 3, 1979". Archives of Andrology. 7 (2): 95–95. 1981-01-01. doi:10.3109/01485018108999296. ISSN 0148-5016.
  3. Edwards, R. G. (1980). "Obituary: Dr. Shanta Rao (1923-1979)". Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 2: 183–184.
  4. Dattatreyamurty, B.; Sheth, A. R.; Joshi, L. R.; Rao, Shanta S. (1975-02-01). "Changes in the ratio between serum and "specific" levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in different trimesters of pregnancy". American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 121 (3): 300–305. doi:10.1016/0002-9378(75)90002-2. ISSN 0002-9378.
  5. Rao, Shanta S.; Sadri, Katy K. (1960-01-01). "The Antigenic Composition of Buffalo Semen". Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics. 70: 1–IN1. doi:10.1016/S0368-1742(60)80001-X. ISSN 0368-1742.
  6. Sheth, Parul R. (June 2009). "Shanta S. Rao Award" (PDF). Current Science. 96: 1438.
  7. Rao, Shanta S. (1965-12-01). "Proceedings of the India Society for the Study of Reproduction". Reproduction. 10 (3): 473–478. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0100473. ISSN 0022-4251.
  8. Dattatreyamurty, B.; Sheth, Anil R.; Purandare, Tarala V.; Rao, Shanta S. (1976-12-01). "Nature of Cross-Reaction Between hCG and Anti-oLH Serum and Development of a Radioimmunoassay to Measure hLH Specifically in the Presence of hCG". Endocrinology. 99 (6): 1554–1561. doi:10.1210/endo-99-6-1554. ISSN 0013-7227.
  9. Rangnekar, Kishori N.; Joshi, Usha M.; Rao, Shanta S. (January 1972). "Diminution in humoral antibodies to tetanus toxoid after ovulen therapy in mice". Contraception. 5 (1): 53–56. doi:10.1016/0010-7824(72)90080-7. ISSN 0010-7824.
  10. Sheth, A. R.; Joshi, L. R.; Moodbidri, S. B.; Rao, Shanta S. (1973). "Serum prolactin levels in fertile and infertile men". Andrologia. 5 (4): 297–298. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.1973.tb00493.x. ISSN 1439-0272.
  11. Rajan, R.; Sheth, A.R.; Rao, Shanta S. (September 1983). "Sialic acid, sialyltransferase and neuraminidase levels in maternal plasma, urine and lymphocytes during pregnancy and post-partum period — a longitudinal study in women". European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 16 (1): 37–46. doi:10.1016/0028-2243(83)90218-6.
  12. Gunaga K.P.; Sheth A.R.; Rao Shanta S.; Pardanani D.S. (1971-12-01). "Effect of Testosterone Therapy on Some of the Constituents of Human Seminal Plasma". Journal of Urology. 106 (6): 920–922. doi:10.1016/S0022-5347(17)61436-8.
  13. Shastry, Padma R.; Hegde, Umashashi C.; Rao, Shanta S. (September 1977). "Use of Ficoll–sodium metrizoate density gradient to separate human X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa". Nature. 269 (5623): 58–60. doi:10.1038/269058a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  14. Sheth, A. R.; Rao, Shanta S. (1959-08-01). "Fructose and fructolysis in human semen determined chromatographically". Experientia. 15 (8): 314–316. doi:10.1007/BF02158544. ISSN 1420-9071.
  15. "Watumull Awards Go to 4 in India". The Honolulu Advertiser. 1964-04-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-11-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "4 Persons Selected for Watumull Awards". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1964-04-20. p. 29. Retrieved 2020-11-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. The Rockefeller Foundation. (1965) Annual Report. 129 ("Grants: Problems of Population").
  18. "Scientist". The Canadian India Times. January 10, 1980. p. 9. Retrieved November 17, 2020 – via SFU Digitized Newspapers.
  19. "Obituary" (PDF). Indian Academy of Cytologists Newsletter. 5: 13. 1980.
  20. "Institute for Research in Reproduction (Indian Council of Medical Research) Mumbai". CareerURL. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
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