Dr Sharad Vishwanath Apte, former Director of National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH), Mumbai, passed away on February 2, 2013 at Pune after a brief illness. Born on July 7, 1930 in Pune, he obtained his MBBS degree from B.J. Medical College, Pune University in 1955, and completed his MD in Biochemistry in 1963 from Osmania University, Hyderabad. He also obtained a Ph.D. degree under the guidance of Dr C. Gopalan in 1969 from Poona University, and the title of his thesis was ‘studies on Iron Metabolism’.
He joined ICMR as a research worker at National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, and over the years rose to be the Senior Deputy Director General and Head of Basic Medical Sciences Division of ICMR Headquarters, New Delhi. While working at NIN he was awarded the Rockfeller Foundation fellowship during 1965-1967. He published his research work mainly on iron balance in reputed international and national journals like Lancet, British Journal of Nutrition, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, British Journal of Haematology, Indian Journal of Medical Research, etc.
During his tenure at ICMR he mentored the ‘National Talent Search Programme’ which was the brain child of Dr C. Gopalan, the then Director-General, ICMR. With the help of this programme several bright medical students were taken to the path of medical research at the national level. Many of them opted to join ICMR and today they have risen to the top positions in ICMR. To name a few are Dr V.M. Katoch, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director-General, ICMR, Dr K. Ghosh, Director, NIIH, Mumbai, Dr S.K. Kar, Director, Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubneshwar. He developed two more programmes viz. Short Term Research Studentship and Research Career Development Fund for mid level faculty in medical colleges. Dr Apte was an accomplished medical administrator with a keen eye for the details.
He along with late Dr H. M. Bhatia was instrumental in acquiring the 13th floor of the new building in the KEM Campus at Mumbai for Institute of Immuno-haematology (now NIIH). In 1988, after the retirement of Dr H.M. Bhatia, Director, IIH, he joined IIH, Mumbai and took over the charge as Director. Dr Apte was instrumental for furnishing and modernizing all the laboratories of the Institute. He managed to get several latest equipment required for research work. This helped the scientists to initiate advanced research in various facets of immunohaematology. He also understood that the Institute needs accommodation for scientists and acquired four flats close by to the Institute.
May God rest his soul in peace.