Prof. N. K. Ganguly completed his MBBS at University of Kolkatta, MD (Microbiology) from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh and obtained D.Sc. (h.c.) from University of Calcutta, Kolkata; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi; Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.


Until recently, he was Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. He was General President (Elect), the Indian Science Congress Association for the year 2004-2005 and was acting Director, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh for the period from 8.12.1999 to 6.3.2000 and 1.10.2003 to 20.12.2003. He was also acting Director, National Institute of Biologicals, NOIDA.


Prof. Ganguly has published 725 papers and guided 130 Ph.D thesis as guide/co-guide. His major research areas have been tropical diseases, cardiovascular diseases and diarrhoeal diseases. His area of specialization is infection and has interests in this area ranges from immunology, biotechnology and public health. Prof. Ganguly is Fellow, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London; Royal College of Pathologists, London; International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Canada; Third World Academy of Sciences, Italy; and International Medical Sciences Academy, New Delhi. He is also Fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; National Academy of Science, Allahabad; and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore.

 

He was the President of National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and was President, Asian Society of Diarrhoeal Diseases and Nutrition (2000-2003). He was Chairman, Lancefield International Society on Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases; President, International Society of Health Research (Indian Chapter); was President, Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (Indian Chapter).


He has been Emeritus Professor of National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), New Delhi; Honorary Professor, Special Centre for Molecular Medicine (SCMM), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Emeritus Professor, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh; Honorary Global Health Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Boston University; Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota; Honorary Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore; was Visiting Professor, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, Delhi; was Professor of International Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; was Guest Lecturer, S.N.Pradhan Centre for Neuro-Science, Calcutta University, Calcutta; Honorary Doctor, Yerevan State Medical University; Honorary Consultant/ Adviser, Armed Forces Medical Services Raksha Mantralaya.


He has been Chair of WHO-SEARO Advisory Committee on Health Research for the last several years. He was Vice-Chairman, Joint Coordinating Board (JCB) for Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR); Joint Indo-US Vaccine Action Program. He was Chairman, WHO Scientific Working Group on Criteria for Setting Health Research Priorities, WHO SEARO, New Delhi and Co-Chairman, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). He was member, Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of TDR; Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction; Foundation Council, Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva; UNAIDS Vaccine Advisory Committee; Scientific Board Grand Challenges, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; was Board of Trustees, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B); was National Advisory Council, International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW), Delhi; was International Advisory Group (IAG), Fogarty International Centre (FIC), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. He was Member of Joint Coordinating Board (JCB) for Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR); was Proto-board and Working Group of World Bank; International Advisory Committee, Vaccine Research Centre, National Institutes of Health, Maryland, USA; and Guideline Development Group in updating of the Technical Report on Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease, WHO, Geneva. He is Chairman, Research Council of Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow and Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune. He was Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, Centre for Cellular

& Molecular Biology, Hyderabad; Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad; Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai; Bose Institute, Kolkata and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. He is Governing Body member of 27 Indian institutes and Public Health Foundation of India. He has been Scientific Advisory Committee member of various research institutes in India. He has participated as Temporary Advisors in 121 WHO meetings till date. He is also Chairman of various committees of Govt. of India like GM Food, Vitamin A, Environmental Health etc.


He had been Chief Editor of PGI’s Bulletin, Chandigarh and was member, Editorial Board of various national and international journals. He is Chairman, Editorial Board of Indian Journal of Medical Research and ICMR Bulletin.


He has won 100 awards (International-4; National-96). He received Norman Alpert Award, 2004 of International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences; Annual Award, 2004 of International Spirit of Life Foundation, USA and Gaylord Anderson Memorial Lecture, 2006 of School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. Notable among national awards are Goyal Prize in the area of Applied Science (2002); 24th Rameshwardas Birla National Award, 2005 of the Rameshwardasji Birla Smarak Kosh; Om Prakash Bhasin Award in Health & Medical Sciences, 1997; Ranbaxy Research Award, 1996; FICCI  Awards,  1998-99;  Excellence  in  Science  and  Technology, 2006 of the Indian Science Congress Association and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal (2007); INSA’s Shambu Nath De Memorial Lecture Award, 1993; Dr. Yellapragada SubbaRow Memorial Lecture, 1999; five ICMR awards; Prof. Naranjan S. Dhalla Award for lifetime achievement in Cardiovascular Pharmacology of the Indian Pharamcology Society.   He has made important contributions in the field of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease and its public health aspects and patho- genesis. His other contributions include immunological basis of chronic artery disease and pathogenesis of Takawasu   disease.