Padmanabhan Balaram | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alma mater | University of Pune Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Carnegie Mellon University |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan[1] |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | Indian Institute of Science |
| Doctoral advisor | Aksel A. Bothner-By |
Padmanabhan Balaram is an Indianbiochemist and a former director of theIndian Institute of Science inBangalore, India.[2] He is a recipient of the third highest Indian civilian honour ofPadma Bhushan (2014)[3] as well as theTWAS Prize (1994).[4] He has been conferred the 2021R. Bruce Merrifield Award by the American Peptide Society.[5]
Balaram received his bachelor's degree in chemistry fromFergusson College,University of Pune followed by amaster's degree from theIndian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and hisPhD fromCarnegie Mellon University with Aksel A. Bothner-By.[6] After a postdoctoral stint atHarvard University with Nobel laureateRobert Burns Woodward,[7] he returned to the Indian Institute of Science, where he has been ever since as a faculty member in the Molecular Biophysics Unit. He presently holds a Chaired Professorship at theNational Center for Biological Sciences, Bangalore. During his PhD, Balaram studied the use of negativeNuclear Overhauser effect signals as probes of macromolecular conformations. As a postdoc with Woodword, Balaram worked on the synthesis of the antibioticerythromycin.[2]
Balaram's main area of research has been the investigation of the structure, conformation, and biological activity of designed and natural peptides. To do this, he has extensively used techniques such asNuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy,Infrared spectroscopy, andCircular Dichroism, along withX-ray crystallography. He has been a major contributor to the evaluation of factors influencing the folding and conformations of designed peptides, and has investigated structural elements playing a key role in the formation of secondary structural motifs such as helices, beta turns, and sheets. Along withIsabella Karle, a frequent collaborator, he has also pioneered the use of alpha-amino isobutyric acid to induce and retain helicity and constrain peptide conformations.[8]
Balaram has authored more than 400 research papers, and is a fellow of theIndian National Science Academy.[6][9]
He was the editor of the journalCurrent Science until June 2013.[10][11]
In Jan 27, 2025 on direction of 71st City Civil and Sessions Court,Sadashivanagara Police Station ofBengaluru City Police booked Former director ofIIScPadmanabhan Balaram including 15 other members underScheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.[12]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
