Prof. P. K. Seth

Chief Executive Officer
Biotech Park, Lucknow

&
Former Director
Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow



 

Prof. Seth has been associated with the Biotechnology City, Lucknow Project, as the Nodal Officer, since its initiation by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. He is, a former Director Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow and also the Adjunct Professor of Toxicology Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi and honorary Professor, Biochemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow.

Prof. Seth, a biochemical pharmacologist and toxicologist has made pioneering contributions to the field of neurotoxicology.
He has shown the involvement of dopamine receptors in the toxicity of acrylamide, a widely used monomer and manganese, a commonly used metal. His studies have demonstrated that human blood platelets possess DA and 5HT receptors and can serve as a peripheral model for Central Nervous System. His laboratory has established that mammalian brain is equipped with both phase-I and phase-II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and neuronal cells contains higher amounts of some P450 enzymes than glial cells. These enzymes play an important role in the expression of toxicity of acrylamide, a widely used monomer and insecticides such as lindane and deltamethrin.

 


Recently, his laboratory has developed a novel non - invasive method P450s to assess the effect of exposure to toxic drugs & foreign chemicals utilizing lymphocytes. His studies demonstrated strong similarities between the expression of P450s in lymphocytes and the liver. P450 expression in blood lymphocytes can, therefore serve as a surrogate for studying tissue isoenzymes. The blood lymphocyte P450 profile therefore, may provide a sensitive and mechanistic - based biomarkers, which could help in identifying populations sensitive to chemicals.

At the applied side, Prof. Seth's laboratory standardized the test systems for the evaluation of the safety of plastics used in the packaging, storage and delivery of food, medicines and cosmetics for the first time in India. These protocols have now been adopted by BIS and Central Committee of Food Standards, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Top
 

 

 
PROFESSIONAL HONOURS & AWARDS 
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
MEMBERSHIP IN COMMITTEES (SELECTED LIST)
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF GRANT APPLICATIONS
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
EDITORIAL 
RESEARCH INTERESTS
PUBLICATIONS
PATENTS
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
TEACHING AND TRAINING
Contact
 
 

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS & HONOURS
   
AWARDS

C.R. Krishnamurti Memorial Oration, 2005
Vigyan Gaurav Samman (2004) of Government of Uttar Pradesh, 2005
Indian Academy of Neurology Oration, 2002
Life Time Achievement Award, Society of Toxicology, India, 2002
Raj Kristo Dutt Memorial Lecture Award, Indian Science Congress, 2002
K.N. Bahl Memorial Oration, 2001
Platinum Jubilee Lecture, Section of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Indian Science Congress, 2001
Norman Dill Award, Society of Biosciences, India, 1998
FAEB - Honours, 1998, Highest Award of Academy of Environmental Biology
Bharat Jyoti Award, 1997 
C.R. Krishnamurti Memorial Lecture Award, Society of Biological Chemists (India), 1995
Bodansky Lecturer, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, November 1992
Best Senior Scientist Award, ITRC, 1989
Jordi-Folch-Pi Travel Award, International Society for Neurochemistry, 1981
Board of Trustees Research Award, Chicago Medical School for Meritorious Research and Outstanding contributions to Medical Knowledge,1969 
Scheweppe Foundation Fellowship Award (Career Development Award) for Three Years, 1969.

Top

HONOURS

Fellow, National Academy of Medical Sciences, 2003
President, Environmental Mutagen Society of India, 2003- Onwards
President, Society of Toxicology, 2001-2002
President, Indian Network for Soil Contamination Research, (1999-onwards).
President, Indian Academy of Neurosciences, 1997-1978.
Fellow, Indian National Science Academy, 1997
Fellow, Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, 1997
Fellow, Academy of Environmental Biology, 1994
Fellow, The National Academy of Sciences, India, 1990
Councilor, Section of Drug Metabolism, International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR), 1987-91
Councilor, Section of Toxicology, International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR), 1984-87, 1987-91
Member-Secretary, Indian National Science Academy, National Committee for IUPHAR, 1986-88
Founder Fellow, Society of Toxicology (India) (FSOT), 1988
Founder Fellow, Indian Academy of Neurosciences (FIANS), 1986

Top

 

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

Visiting Professor, Department of Medicine, Lousiana State University Medical Centre, New Orleans, LA, USA, July, 1995
Visiting Scientist, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, USA, August, 1994.
Visiting Scientist, US Food and Drug Administration, International Visiting Programme, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, US FDA, Washington DC, USA, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1983 and 1980 
Visiting Professor, Department of Physiology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA, 1982, 1981
Visiting Scientist, Fogarty International Visiting Programme of NIH (USA) -Laboratory of Behavioral and Neurological Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 1979-80.
Visiting Senior WHO Fellow, U.K. and Europe, 1979
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, The Chicago Medical School, Chicago, USA, 1970-71
Faculty Research Associate, Division of Enzymology, The Chicago Medical School, Chicago, USA, 1967-70
Research Fellow (JRF/SRF), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi-Department of Pharmacology, K.G's. Medical College, Lucknow, 1963-67

Top

 

MEMBERSHIP IN COMMITTEES (SELECTED LIST)

National

Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Health, 2000
Member, Committee to examine environmental issues related with Lead Poisoning - 2000
Member, High Power Committee on Hazardous Waste Management, 1997
Working Group on Pollution Abatement, 1990-91

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India
Food Packaging Sub-committee, Central Committee for Food Standards, DGHS, New Delhi, 1985
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi
Member Medical Research Committee, 1992-94
Chairman, Project Committee on Facilitating International Competitiveness through securing GLP accreditation, 1997-2003.
Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi
Chairman, GLP Technical Committee, 2002
Neurobiology Programme Advisory Committee, 1991-94
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi
Member, Task Force on Biodiversity Conservation and Environment, 1997-2000
UP State Council of Science and Technology
Pollution Abatement Core Group, 1988-92.
Policy Making Committee
Advisory Committee
Regional Science Centre, Lucknow
Chairman, Local Advisory Committee,( 2000 - 2002)

Indian National Science Academy (INSA)
National Committee for International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR), (Member-Secretary, 1986-88), (Member, 1989-91)
Bureau of Indian Standards (ISI)
Environmental Protection Advisory Committee
Plastics in Biomedical Applications, 1994
Scientific Advisory Committees/Research Council
Member, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, 1997-onwards
Member, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 1998-2000
Member, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 1997-2003
Member, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, 1997-2002
Member, Research Advisory Panel for Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, New Delhi
Member, National Brain Research Institute, New Delhi, 1999-2002
Member, Central Insecticides Laboratory, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, Faridabad, 1997-onwards
Member, Regional Occupational Heath Centres, Eastern Region, (NIOH), Calcutta, 1999- 2001
Member, International Life Sciences Institute-India, New Delhi, 2002-onwards
Management Council
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 1999-2001
Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur
International
IUPHAR
Councilor, Section of Toxicology, 1987-1991
Councilor, Section of Drug Metabolism, 1984-1991

Top

 

 

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

     National

Indian National Science Academy, Fellow (Member Sectional Committee VIII,1999-2001)
The National Academy of Sciences, India, Fellow (Chairman, Lucknow Chapter, Member Council, 1999 onwards, Member Council 1999-2000,2002)
Indian Academy of Neurosciences, Fellow (General secretary 1982-92, Vice President 1994-96, President 1997-1998) 
President, Society of Toxicology (India)  
Society of Biological Chemists (India), Life Member
Indian Pharmacological Society, Life Member (President, Lucknow Branch)
Neurosciences Society of India, Life Member
Environmental Mutagen Society of India (Vice President)
Indian Network for Soil Contamination Research, (President, 1999-onwards)

Top

 

International

Society of Sigma XI (International Chapter)
American Society for Neurochemistry
International Society for Biochemical Pharmacology
International Society for Developmental Neurobiology
International Society for Neurochemistry
International Brain Research Organization
International Neurotoxicology Association
Section of Drug Metabolism, International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR)
Section of Toxicology, International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR)

Top

 

EDITORIAL

    Journals/Monographs

Member, Advisory Editorial Board, Indian Journal of Environmental Health, 2001 - onwards.
Member, Editorial Board, Nutritional Neuroscience, an International Journal on Nutrition, Diet and Nervous System, 1998-onwards.
Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Toxicology, USA, 1998-onwards.
Member, Editorial Board, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, USA 1994 - onwards
Editor, Indian Journal of Toxicology, 1994 - onwards
Chief Associate Editor, Int. J. Toxicol. Occup. Env. Hlth., 1991-1999
Member, Editorial Board, Annals of Neuroscience, 1990 - onwards
Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C, Environmental Health Sciences (USA), 1982-85
Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Medicinal & Aromatics Plants, 2002-onwads 

   Books

A Manual for Safety Evaluation of Plastics (Co-edited with Dr. S.P. Srivastava, ITRC), 1988
Text Book on Principles of Pharmacology: Basic Concepts & Clinical Applications (Dr. P. Munson, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor in Chief R.A. Muller and George R. Breese) Chapman & Hall, USA, (Section Associate Editor, Elements of Toxicology, Dr. P.K. Seth), 1995. 
Current Research in Pharmacology in India (Co-Editor with Prof. B.N. Dhawan , INSA),1996. 

Top

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

General

Biochemical Toxicology, Neurotoxicology, Developmental Toxicology

Specific

Involvement of the neurotransmitter receptors in the toxicity of chemicals, brain and blood lymphocyte xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, perinatal toxicity of industrial and environmental chemicals, safety evaluation of plastics, polymers and other finished products and chemicals.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Published over 243 Papers in refereed journals, Contributed 23 Chapters in Books / Symposia Proceedings and 10 Safety Evaluation Reports of Plastics and Chemicals, Books Authored/Co-authored 3.

Top

PATENTS

An improved incubator for bacteriological analysis of a sample (Patent No. 179957)
An Electronic Control Device for uninterrupted and non-conventional (solar) electronic energy (Patent No. 177443)
A process for the synthesis of a complex used as a plasticiser-cum-stabiliser or the manufacture of plastics (Patent No. 177873)
An improved colorimeter for physico-chemical analysis of a sample Application No. 616/DEL/95)
An improved ion selective electrode useful for sensing potassium ion in fluids and a device thereof (Application No. 2519/DEL/98)
A process for the preparation of a solid-state pH electrode, a solid-state pH electrode prepared thereby and a pH meter prepared therefrom. (Application No. 1279/DEL/99)
A process for the preparation of a solid-state biosensor for urea, a solid-state biosensor for urea prepared thereby and a urea meter made therefrom. (Application No. 1282/DEL/99)
A novel device for the quantification of arsenic in water and a process thereof. (Application No. 774/DEL/2000)
An improved process for the preparation of alum impregnated tea leaves carbon for defluoridation of drinking water. (Application No. 0045/DEL/2001)
A novel device for the quantification of lead and copper in aqueous/non-aqueous and biological samples and a process thereof. (Application No. 13/DEL/2002)

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

As a member of the team and Coordinator of the National Drinking Water Mission developed following technologies which have been commercialized.

ITRC-Water Analysis Kit for Bacteriological and Physicochemical Parameters
Technology has been transferred to three parties.
Mobile Laboratory Van for Water Quality Analysis, Public Awareness and Pollution Abatement 
Technology has been transferred to two parties.

 

Top


GROWTH OF TOXICOLOGY

Research and Training Facility

Ever since joining ITRC in 1971, developed capabilities to conduct basic and applied biochemical toxicology studies at cellular and molecular level. Our laboratory soon received national and international recognition and provided training to a large number of students from different parts of the country in the area of Neurotransmitter Receptor Binding. Also a large number of M.Sc. and M.D. students in the field of biochemical pharmacology were trained and their work for the Ph.D./M.D./M.D.S./D.M. degree was supervised. 

To meet the manpower needs in this growing discipline, an In house Course in Industrial and Environmental Toxicology, several training courses, workshops and conferences were organized. An ITRC-IBRO Symposium on Neurotoxic Substances in Environment and their Impact on Human Health in 1984 and a symposium on Problems of Toxicology in Developing Countries during the Asian Congress of Pharmacology in 1985 were organised. Also the 2nd Congress of Toxicology In Developing Countries in Delhi from November 24-28, 1991 which was sponsored by several international and national scientific agencies including IUPHAR and IUTOX was convened. As the Secretary General of the Congress significantly contributed towards the planning and developing an effective scientific programme pertaining to the needs of the developing countries.

A Neurotoxicology Update: Current Concepts and Techniques was organized in 1990 under the sponsorship of Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi. Also Indo-US Workshops on Role of Predisposing Factors of Health, Nutrition and Environment in Safety of Drugs and Chemicals in 1986 and on Toxication and Detoxication Mechanisms in 1988 were organised. The latter workshop was also co-sponsored by Sections of Drug Metabolism and Toxicology of IUPHAR. A laboratory manual was also prepared for the trainees of this workshop. 

A Training Workshop & Formulation of Regional Programme on Pesticide Residues of Chemical Research & Environmental Needs (CREN) Programme of Commonwealth Science Council from October 3-12, 1994 and an Indo-German Workshop on In Vitro Toxicology from November 7-9, 1994 under the sponsorship of CSIR-GSF agreement were organized. A Workshop on Biological Monitoring of Chemical Exposure, sponsored by the Section of Toxicology, International Union of Pharmacology and International Council of Scientific Union was organised from December 15 - 20, 1997 and an Indo-US Workshop on Lead and Other Heavy Metals: Sensitive Population at High Risk was organised in 1998 in collaboration of US EPA and CDC. Also, a course on Monitoring and Analysis of Toxic Chemicals and Biological Toxins in Food and Water in 2000 in association with Commonwealth Science Council and an Indo German Workshop sponsored by DAAD-CSIR from November 2-4, 2000 were organised. Recently an International Conference on Environmental and Occupational Respiratory Diseases was organised from October 28 - November 1, 2000. As the President of the Conference, provided guidance in selecting the topics and issues for discussions pertinent to developing countries. The conference sponsored by several national (CSIR,ICMR,MOEF) and international agencies (NIEHS, EPA,CDC) was a great a success.

These workshops and training programmes helped in training of a large number of young students and scientists in the field of modern toxicology


National and International Recognition

Organisation of the above workshops and conferences besides training a large number of young persons in the field of toxicology brought national and international recognition to this multidisciplinary discipline. The recognition to the subject was also achieved through the opportunities provided by INSA, CSIR and other agencies to represent India in several International congresses and symposia and highlight the work being done in the country. He has been the only Indian Scientist to be elected as the Councilor for the Section of Toxicology and Section of Drug Metabolism of IUPHAR and serve as the official liaison member between these two sections of IUPHAR. Currently, has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the Component of Pesticide Residues of the Chemical Research & Environmental Needs (CREN) Programme of Commonwealth Science Council. 

His laboratory has attracted several well-established scientists from USA and other countries to undertake short-term collaborative research work under the NSF and UNDP TOKTEN Programmes.


TEACHING AND TRAINING

Served on the faculty of the Chicago Medical School and taught M.Sc. and M.D. students. Also served as the Faculty of Neurobiology Courses organized by Department of Science & Technology, India, WHO Training Programme in the field of Toxicology, UGC Faculty Improvement Programmes and several other training programmes. 

In view of his contributions he has been appointed as Adjunct Professor of Toxicology at Jamia Hamdard (Deemed University), New Delhi.

Top

Contact

Phone :       +91-522-2365050, 2365755, 2733174, 2732442
Telefax :      +91-522-2365755
E-mail :       prahladseth@gmail.com
                   info@biotechcitylucknow.org

Top