Presidents of 'THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF HUMAN GENETICS'
Dr. L. D. Sanghvi, Ph.D (Columbia) - 1973-78
The founder of Human
genetic studies in India Dr. Sanghvi in association with Dr. Khanolkar
initiated human genetics studies in the years 1945-46 with studies on
distribution and antigenic variation at he ABO and Rh blood groups.
Subsequently, he established the Human Variation Group at the Cancer
Research Centre, Bombay from where several original contributions on the
genetics of Indian population emanated, notably on genetic polymorphisms
and several variants identified at the blood group, haemoglobin,
haptoglobin and G6PD loci by his collaborators consisting of Bhatia,
Baxi, Naik, Sukumaran and Undevia. Individually Dr Sanghvi is well known
for introducing the first genetic distance measure based on gene
frequencies, which bears his name. His second major contribution is in
the study of inbreeding in Indian population and the problems connected
with the expression and measurement of genetic load revealed by
inbreeding. He is also well known for his studies on the epidemiology of
cancer in India, specially on smoking and cancer and the yeoman service
he made through the National Cancer Registry, an unique and perhaps the
only National Registry in India for any disease or disorder of genetic
in India interest. His efforts to popularize human genetic in India by
establishing the Indian Society of Human Genetics and through popular
articles and radio talks will always be remembered. Author of over 100
research papers, book on "Human Population Genetics in India"
Co-edited with his colleagues and published by Orient Longmans and the
Monograph "Biology of the people of Tamil Nadu" are important
publications of Dr Sanghvi, in the field.
Dr Sanghvi received the Sandoz Oration Award and the Fellowships of the
Wenner-Gren Foundation (USA) and World Health Organization.
He held several responsible positions such as: Dean, Cancer Research
Institute; Advisor, Human Genetics, World Health Organization, Geneva;
and Secretary, International Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiations,
Rome.
In recognition of these services of Dr Sanghvi, the Indian Society of
Human Genetic has instituted a special award by his name, to be given to
a distinguished human geneticist of India once in two years
