Thammajirao Ramachandra Rao received DSc (1951) from University of Calcutta. He remained Director, Virus Research Centre, Pune (1961-70); and later Officer on Special Duty, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi (1970-73).

Academic and Research Achievements: Rao’s research spanned mosquitoes of India, with special reference to anophelines; measures for controlling of rural malaria and demonstration of its utility; epidemiology of vector-borne diseases with special reference to malaria, and viruses; and behaviour and morphology of chromosomes of grasshoppers.

Awards and Honours: Dr Ramachandra Rao was conferred TS Narayana Rao Oration Award by ICMR (1974); Sisir Kumar Mitra Lecture Award by INSA (1978); and Sharada Devi Paul Memorial Oration by National Institute of Virology. He was President, Zoology Section, Indian Science Congress (1972); Fellow, National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), National Society of Communicable Diseases (India), Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; and Honorary Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.