Dr KJ Ranadive was an indian cell biologist. She is also known as Kamal Samarth. Google Doodle celebrates her 104 birth anniversary for her contribution towards cancer research. She was born on November 8, 1917 in Pune, India.
She completed her Ph.D. in Cytology, the study of cells, from Indian Cancer Research Center (ICRC) from the University of Bombay in 1949. She did her post-doctoral research work in Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. After returning to India, she established the first tissue culture laboratory at the Indian Cancer Research Centre.
She found that there is a link between breast cancer and heredity. She investigated that certain viruses are responsible for cancer diseases. She was one of founding members of Indian Women Scientists’ Association.
She worked for different departments and centers which descriptions are as following:
Head of Department of Experimental Biology (1952-62)
Acting Director, Indian Cancer Research Centre, Mumbai (1962-66)
Head, Biology Division, Cancer Research Institute, Tata Memorial Centre (1966-77)
Emeritus Medical Scientist, ICMR.
Member of the INSA Council (1985-87)
After retirement in 1989, she educated the women about healthcare and nutrition in the rural area of Rajur in Maharashtra. She died in 2001.
She won multiple awards which are as followings:
Basanti Devi Amirchand Award (1958)
GJ Watumull Memorial International Award (1964)
First Silver Jubilee Research Award by Medical Council of India (1964)
Sandoz Oration Award (1976)
Distinguished Woman Award by Banaras Hindu University Mahila Mahavidyalaya (1982)
Silver Jubilee Gold Medal by Medical Council of India
Sandoz Gold Medal
Padma Bhushan for medicine (1982)
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