Dr W. Selvamurthy
Chancellor, Amity University
Dr. W. Selvamurthy is presently working with Amity University as President of Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation, Director General for Amity Directorate of Science and Innovation, and Chancellor of Amity University, Chhattisgarh.
Dr. Selvamurthy did his Master’s (M.Sc.) in Human Physiology from Christian Medical College, Vellore (1972) and Doctorate (Ph.D.) (Faculty of Medical Science) from Delhi University (1982) and Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from Bangalore (2006). He was also awarded D.Sc. (h.c) from five universities in recognition of his outstanding research and development contributions in Life Sciences.
Dr. Selvamurthy served the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India for close to 40 years in various leadership positions. He superannuated from DRDO on 28 February 2013 as Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller, Research & Development (Life Sciences & International Cooperation) and joined Amity University thereafter in his present role.
At DRDO serving in various senior leadership roles, he was responsible for the research and development of all the health-related and life science-related technologies that were inducted in the Armed Forces with the sole aim to keep the Armed Forces healthy and efficient in all operational environments including extremely inhospitable terrains. Research and development contributions of Dr. W Selvamurthy in biomedical sciences have led to the development of various technologies which have eventually culminated in enhancing the fighting efficiency of the armed forces in extreme conditions like High Altitude, Under Water, Desert, and Aerospace, Low-Intensity Conflict, and also Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical environment.
During his meritorious career in DRDO, he has made outstanding research contributions in many multidisciplinary areas like Environmental Physiology, Applied Physiology, Ergonomics, Neurophysiology, and Military Psychology. His personal research contributions are related to the Acclimatization of soldiers at High altitudes, the Prevention & Treatment of High-Altitude Maladies, and the Application of Yoga and Herbal medicines for the armed forces. Based on the findings of the beneficial effects of Yoga, training in Yoga is now given regularly to soldiers deployed in high altitudes. Indian Navy has also accepted and started imparting training for submariners, Divers, and other naval personnel. He coordinated the High-Altitude Agriculture and Animal Sciences R&D for providing fresh food, milk and meat for the troops posted at High Altitude. Under his initiative, a new Permafrost facility was commissioned at 17,850 ft altitude in Ladakh for the conservation of germplasm. This is the second such facility in the world.
He developed new therapeutic modalities for the treatment of High Altitude Pulmonary Odema (HAPO) using nitric oxide (15ppm) and oxygen (50%), and frostbite using Aloe vera cream thereby significantly reducing the mortality and morbidity of troops deployed at high altitudes. Developed a new prophylactic method using Carbogen for protection against noise-induced hearing loss among crews in ships and tanks. The Navy accepted it for induction in engine rooms of ships. The R&D contributions have also provided spin-off benefits to civil Society. An antigen-based Typhoid detection kit, 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose as radio-sensitizer for cancer therapy, Diagnobact for infection imaging, attracticide for mosquito control, and Leh-Berry Juice as an antioxidant have been developed under his leadership. He was also instrumental in the development of a world-class Computerized Pilot Aptitude Battery test (PABT) for the selection of Pilots commissioned in the Indian Air Force. R&D contributions in the field of Disaster Management have served the victims affected by earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, and floods, as well as for NBC eventualities. Dr. Selvamurthy spearheaded the CBRN Defence Mission in DRDO and products developed were inducted into the Armed forces in large numbers. The products led to early detection, personal and collective protection, decontamination, and medical management.
Dr. W. Selvamurthy is presently working with Amity University as President of Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation, Director General for the Amity Directorate of Science and Innovation, and Chair Professor for Life Sciences. He is also the Chancellor, of Amity University, Chhattisgarh. Dr. Selvamurthy has been instrumental in augmenting the research activities at Amity University since his joining the organization in 2013 for making Amity a “Research & Innovation Driven University.” He has been involved in facilitating research activities such as building collaboration for research and development at the National and International levels, Commercialization of technologies developed by the scientists and researchers at Amity University, guiding and promoting the faculty and researchers for developing the 5P’s (Projects, Ph.D., Publications, Patent, Products).
He was the leader of the first Indo-Soviet scientific expedition to the Arctic Circle for polar physiology research. He is the Chairman of the Technology Commercialization Committee of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). He is also the chairperson of Institutional Review Board (Ethics Committee) (IRB) of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi; Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of ICMR for Medical Devices and Diagnostic Secretariat (MDMS) under the Division of ITR, ICMR-Hqrs, New Delhi; Assessment Committee under the “Yoga Certification Board (YCB)”, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; Sub Committee for Technical/Financial recommendations on Hub proposal under Biomedical Device and Technology Development (BDTD) Programme of DST; Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) to formulate the Vision for the Nation for Health & Medical Sciences (Health)– 2035
Dr. Selvamurthy has also chaired the National Advisory Committee (NAC) for the formulation of policy on Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR), Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. He was also the Chairman of the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) for the Plan Scheme: National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India; Dr. Selvamurthy has served as the Chairman of Society for Biomedical Technology wherein he successfully supervised the development of critical care ventilators, titanium dental implants, and FRO for Polio patients; Human Engineering Panel of the Aeronautical Research and Development Board provided valuable input for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, particularly from the perspective of the human-machine interface. He has been the member of the High-Powered Committee appointed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to review its 12th Plan, Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C), Indian delegation to the World Health Assembly under the Chairmanship of the Health Minister to speak about the complimentary systems of medicine including Yoga. Dr. Selvamurthy also represented India at the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at the State Parties, Executive Council, Working Group, and Confidentiality Commission conference-2006 and an expert selected at the global level by World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a UNO body (1983-85) to formulate policies related to Climate and Human Health. He was the representative of the International Society of Biometeorology in the World Health Organisation (Southeast Asian Region) (1990-95).
He has an h-index of 40 and published more than 250 research papers in journals of repute including 18 books. He has been a member of the Indian delegation to the World Health Assembly under the Chairmanship of the Health Minister to speak about the complimentary systems of medicine including Yoga. He has represented India at the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at the conference of State Parties, Executive Council, Working Group, and Confidentiality Commission. Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has entrusted the responsibility of Technology Vision (Health) – 2035 to Dr. Selvamurthy as Chairman to formulate the Vision for the Nation for Health & Medical Sciences. In recognition of his significant contributions in the field of biomedical research and development, he has been awarded several prestigious research awards, a few prominent ones are Yoga Ratna Award by Shwaasa Yoga Center (2024), Dr. A.P. J Abdul Kalam Award for the Most prominent scientist & educationist by OASIS WORLD RECORDS (2023), 6th Dr. B.K. Anand Memorial Award by Nutrition Society of India, Hyderabad (2018), Distinguished Science Leadership Excellence Award by World Science Congress (2017), J. Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre, CSIR “National Award for S&T Innovations” presented by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India (2012), Academician Mirsaid Mirrakhimov award for “Contribution to High Altitude Medicine” from Kyrgyz Republic (2012), “Technology Leadership Award” by DRDO (2010) presented by Defence Minister of India, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hon’ble President of India in the field of Clinical and Preventive Cardiology (2006), ICMR Shakuntala Amir Chand Award (1986).