Supporting Biomedical Research

IISc alumnus Dr. Desiraju Rajagopal Rao, and his wife Dr. Vijaya Rao have made a generous contribution to create a Biomedical Research Laboratory in the Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE), IISc. Their contribution will support biomedical research at BSSE for perpetuity. At a ceremony held on Diwali at the Faculty Hall, the couple handed over the cheque to Prof. Anurag Kumar, Director, IISc.

Dr. Rajagopal Rao enrolled in the Associateship Programme in Biochemistry in the mid 1950s. He conducted basic research in food biochemistry at the Central Food Technology Research Institute, Mysore, and retired as its acting Director. Dr. Vijaya Rao served with distinction as a microbiologist at the Defence Food Research Laboratory, also located in Mysore. This distinguished scientist couple is passionate about science, and biomedical research in particular.

Their contribution will help BSSE set up a biomedical research lab and promote research in this interdisciplinary area. A new interdisciplinary centre started in 2015, BSSE undertakes research and training in the broad multi-disciplinary area of biological systems with equal emphasis on science and engineering.