Mattegunta Venkata Radhakrishna Rao obtained PhD (1935) from Andhra University, Waltair. He was Assistant Director and Head, Department of Nutrition and Experimental Pathology, Haffkine Institute, Mumbai; and also Nutrition Expert, Government of Bombay.

Academic and Research Achievements: Dr Rao worked on the diseases of the liver in children and on human nutrition. He was considered an authority on the subject by his peers

. Other Contributions: Rao organized Department of Nutrition at Haffkine Institute. He was Member of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and Nutrition Society of Great Britain.

Awards and Honours: Dr Rao was President, Medical and Veterinary Sciences Section, Indian Science Congress (Once).