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Mahendra Rao
Mahendra Rao received his MD (MBBS) from Bombay University in India and his PhD in Developmental Neurobiology from the California Institute of Technology. Mahendra Rao is internationally known for his research involving human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and iPSC as well as other somatic stem cells and has worked in the stem cell field for more than twenty five years with stints in academia, government and regulatory affairs and industry. .
Until 2010 Dr. Rao led the Stem Cell and Regnerative Medicine division at LiFE Technologies and also served as the Chair of the CBER (FDA) advisory committee (CTGTAC). Dr. Rao subsequently joined the NIH under the leadership of Dr. Francis Collins to serve as the founding Director of the NIH Center of Regenerative Medicine and as the Chief of the Laboratory of Stem cell Biology.
Dr. Rao ongoing efforts are focused on translational work and he currently serves as the CSO for Vita Therapeutics and is on the Board of Directors at NKURE and Eyestem. He also is a SAB member Stellular Bio and Reprocell. Dr. Rao focus remains on developing low-cost technologies for use in developing countries such as India and to provide consultant and advisory services to biotechnology companies in the regenerative medicine field.