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MURRAY , KY , April 21—Dr. Ramesh Gupta will receive the 2006 Distinguished Researcher award from the Murray State University Alumni Association. The award, which includes a $1,000 cash stipend and plaque, will be presented to Gupta during a faculty dinner on April 27 in the Curris Center Ballroom.

Gupta, professor and head of toxicology at the Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC), has made many significant research contributions to Murray State University and internationally as a professor and researcher at BVC. A member of the faculty since 1987, Gupta has held the position of head toxicologist at BVC for the past 12 years.

Gupta’s primary brain and pesticide research has led to major milestones in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease that affects an estimated 15 million patients worldwide, a figure that will rise to 35 million by 2010. His most recent research is focused on a compound called UC-II (glycosylated undenatured type II collagen that is derived from chicken sternum) that can be used to treat arthritic dogs. Also recommended for the 45 million American human patients who suffer from arthritis, UC-II is a product of InterHealth Nutraceuticals, Inc.

A leading toxicologist who is known nationally and internationally for his contributions in the field, Gupta has applied and received over $1 million in grants with other researchers from Germany, Japan, Finland, France, England and Greece and from agencies including the Kentucky Science Technology Corporation, Merz Pharmaceuticals Inc., Germany, and Hong Kong Ministry of Science Education, Hong Kong, China.

A leader in the field of Alzheimer’s research, Merz Pharmaceuticals developed Memantine, the first drug to be used worldwide for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. Gupta’s research focuses on the combined treatments (Memantine with Aircept or Exelon) to treat Alzheimers. “What I have studied and researched proves that there is no interfering interaction between either of these two drugs with memantine and they can be combined effectively together to optimally treat moderate and advanced cases of this disease,” he said.

With 252 publications, 91 research papers, 113 abstracts and 26 case reports to his credit, Gupta collaborated with 82 scientists around the world to publish his first textbook, “Toxicology of Organic Phosphate and Carbanate Compounds.” Many of his research articles have appeared in esteemed biomedical field journals including BrainRresearch , Journal of Neurochemistry , J.A.O.A.C. International , Toxicolog y, Archives of Toxicology , and Toxicology and Applies Pharmacology . Gupta is also the editor and contributing author of the forthcoming book “Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principals.”

A native of India , Gupta earned the bachelor’s of veterinary science and animal health degree and MVSc degree from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in his home country. He received his PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Punjab Agricultural Iniversity.

Prior to coming to the BVC, Gupta was associated with Vanderbilt University and Michigan State University . NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense funded his research at Vanderbilt, which centered on biochemical toxicity of organophosphate insecticides and nerve agents. At Michigan State he researched prenatal and postnatal toxicity of the insecticide methyl parathion, funded by NIH.

The guest speaker at many national and international meetings and conferences, Gupta will travel this summer to Jeju Island , South Korea , and Tokyo to present his research analysis. In the fall he will travel to Dubrovnik , Croatia to present his data at EUROTOX-2006 meeting.

Ken Bowman, chair research policy committee, said a significant number of excellent portfolios from faculty members representing most of the University's academic colleges were received by the committee. "There are many Murray State University faculty members that are prolific researchers in their areas. Given the amount of work that the average faculty member commits to his or her teaching responsibilities, it is amazing that so many faculty find the time to be excellent researchers as well.”

Bowman, MSU professor of agriculture, said it is also remarkable that many of MSU’s best teachers are also renowned in their research initiatives. "This is the fifth presentation of the Distinguished Researcher Award, and many more richly deserve it. These faculty are truly those that have built the excellent reputation that this university has earned."

Gupta is appreciative of his mother and father, the late Chandra and Triveni Demi Gupta, for the educational gift they gave him. “I do not have enough words to thank them for what they provided to me. Education is the best gift to give or take,” he said. “We all are looking for a commitment to the human cause, and I chose research of the brain.”

Gupta’s mother gave him a monetary inheritance after his father’s death at age 50 to pursue his research education. A woman who received only a fifth grade education, Chandra was able to see her son’s his impressive career before her death. “She passed away three months after I graduated,” Gupta said. “Her mission was accomplished.”

Gupta said if he makes one little contribution to help Alzheimer’s and arthritis patients it has all been worth it. “The brain is a life-threatening organ and controls every aspect of our bodies,“ he said. “A two-minute loss of brain functioning can immobilize our daily functions such as, walking and communicating.”

Gupta, who humorously attests he doesn’t have any outside hobbies other than his research, believes the work population is divided into two categories. “Those who work hard, and those who take the credit,” he said. “I definitely fall into the first category.”

Gupta’s allegiance to MSU’s academic excellence comes from the academic freedom he has been granted by his fellow colleagues. “I take full advantage of the freedom I’ve been given by the university to perform my research,” he said. “The work I perform is a reflection of the supportive staff I have at MSU. I proudly take MSU’s logo to the numerous countries I visit as my statement that I proudly work and present Murray State .”

Gupta reviews papers submitted to many leading journals in the field of toxicology and serves on editorial boards. He is a member of several national and international professional societies including Society of Toxicology, American College of Toxicology, Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Experimental Biology, International Brain Research Organization, and International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics.

The vice president-president elect for American Academy of Veterinary Comparative Toxicology, Gupta has maintained certification as a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology since 1985.

Gupta lives in Hopkinsville , Ky. , with his wife, Denise, and their daughter, Rekha, who immensely support his research initiatives.