Damodar Rout obtained his MBBS (1966) from Cuttack Medical College, Utkal University. Thereafter, he joined the Postgraduate Institute (PGI) of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and got his MS (General Surgery) and MCh (Neurosurgery). He joined the PGI Faculty as a Lecturer in Neurosurgery (1972) and was promoted as Assistant Professor (1975). Thereafter, he was deputed (1975-79) by the Government of India to upgrade the Department of Neurosurgery in a referral hospital in Tehran. Then, he joined the Department of Neurosurgery, Sree Chitra Medical Centre, Trivandrum (1979) and headed it from 1981 when the Centre was upgraded as Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST). Subsequently, he became the Professor and Head SCTIMST in 1985. He was invited in 1996 to join the Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute (SRMC & RI) at Chennai as Professor & Head of the Department of Neurosurgery and Director of Neuro Care Centre.

Academic and Research Achievements: Professor Rout's notable contributions to the field of clinical research involve: epidemiology of spontaneous Subarachnoid haemorrhage; cerebral Vasospasm following aneurysmal SAH; craniovertebral anomalies; pineal region tumors; therapeutic embolization of large cerebral AVMs; and role of lignocaine in the reduction of ICP. In a multiphase study of experimental SAH, ultrastructural changes were shown in the basal vessels and this "Vasculopathy" was thought to be the basis of "cerebral vasospasm". His work on urokinase in the management of experimental intraventricular haemorrhage in canine model has potential in clinical applications. His other notable contributions are: demonstration of mycobacterial antigens in intracranial tuberculomas; slime production by pathogenic bacteria in immunocompromised patients; and assessment of proliferative activity in intracranial tumors. He has developed the indigenous hydrocephalus shunt system "ceredrain", which is in clinical use since 1991. He also contributed some chapters to the textbook Neurosurgery on Vascular Diseases, and also to Recent Advances in Stroke Research, and Progress in Clinical Neurosciences and Tropical Neurosurgery. He has over 105 research publications to his credit. He has guided 17 experimental and clinical research projects for the postgraduates in addition to guiding PhD students. He has mentored over 40 students for MCh in Neurosurgery.

Other Contributions: Professor Rout served as Member of the Ad-hoc Committee for Standardization of Terminology and Surgical Results of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies from Asia (1993-2001). He has been a pioneer in operating on otherwise inoperable giant basilar artery aneurysms under cardiopulmonary bypass. In recognition of his spectacular achievements Prof.Rout was an invited speaker to address the 7th (1987) and 9th (1995) AACNS on various topics and for the symposia "Trends in management of cerebral AVMs" ( ICNS 1989), "Surgical management of giant aneurysms" and " Third ventricular tumors" (ICNS 1993) in Mexico and again surgical management of giant aneurysms & "Steriotactic Radiosurgery " ( ICNS 1997) in Amsterdam. He organized the satellite congress on "Vascular Lesions of the Brain" at Trivandrum in 1989. He also served the INSA Sectional Committee (1996 -98)

Awards and Honours: Professor Rout was awarded the "A" Class Scientist Institute Award by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute, Tiruvananthapuram for outstanding contribution to the development of Hydrocephalus Shunt System (1991); and Institute of Neurology (Madras) Oration Award (1992). He was conferred the certificate: Diploma in Laser Am Nerven System by Karl - Franzens University, Graz, Austria (1993). He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences in 1991. He was conferred " For the Sake of Honour Award" by the Rotary Club of Madras Metro in 2011. An endowment oration for his contributions is being awarded by the Indian Society of Cerebrovascular Surgery.