Dr KV Krishna Moorthy, MBBS, DPH, MIPHA is a Public Health specialist and has worked as Epidemiologist in programmes involving several communicable diseases namely leprosy, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Yaws, etc. His main contribution is for leprosy. He has worked in different capacities in different places of India in the control of leprosy. He worked for the state government of AP in different districts and in the central government services, he worked as Director, Regional Leprosy Training and Research Institute, Aska, Orissa; Regional Director Health–Hyderabad; Addl. Director,  National

Institute of Communicable diseases and Director, CLTRI, Chengalpattu. After retirement he worked as Consultant to Family Welfare Commissioner, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad for 2 years and then joined LEPRA Society in October 2002.

One of the important contributions involves the development of a facile test for the detection of obligate carriers of DMD. He has handled several extramurally funded projects from DBT, DST, DAE and ICMR. He has published over 45 papers in National and International journals and 13 students have received doctoral degrees under his supervision. Prof. Anandaraj is an invited speaker in several national conferences and workshops. He has been an examiner for doctoral dissertation and also invited lecturer for several reputed universities. He is a life member of Indian Society of Human genetics, Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and Society of Biological chemists, India. He has been involved in the formation of twin cities chapter of Thalassemia and Sickle cell society. He is also an active member of the Muscular dystrophy association of India, Hyderabad Chapter. Transfer ribonucleic acids purification and sequencing has been a major accomplishment. Also protein purification, development of methods for assessing the purified protease, including immuno methods such as dot blot and ELISA. Study of protein kinase C and novel kincase C ) in DMD and analysis of apoptotic markers, gene expression in disease conditions such as DMD, fragile X syndrome using RT PCR.

Dr Suman Jain, MBBS; DCH, currently working as Senior Research Medical Officer, Blue Peter Research Center since Dec 2006. Prior to this, she was Co-ordinator at Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society from 2005-2006. She worked as Research Medical officer in Blue Peter Research center since 2000-2005. Her areas of interest are Leprosy mainly reactions in leprosy, Tuberculosis, HIV and mentally retarted children,hemoglobinopathies and Genetic Counselling. She is also founder and board member of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society. She  is  a  Life  member and an  active  member  of  multiple organizations like Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Indian Journal of Pediatrics and

Indian Society of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine. Presented Scientific papers in Leprosy,TB and Hemoglobinopathies in National forum. Published papers in National and International Journals.

Dr Vijaya Lakshmi Valluri, Group Leader for the Immunology & Molecular Biology Division, Vijaya Lakshmi Valluri obtained a Ph.D. in IMMUNOGENETICS in 1981 and gained an experience of 20 years in research and 14 years in teaching. She specializes in Immunology and her main areas of interest include development of a more effective vaccine (than BCG) for Tuberculosis, the role of genetic factors in influencing active leprosy, tuberculosis or TB-HIV diseases.
Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Valluri is recognized as a Supervisor for Ph.D. by Osmania University, has experience both as a Principal   Investigator

and Co-investigator for research projects. She was awarded a ‘Scheme For Young Scientists’ by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and independently planned and executed the project. She received two fellowships: the National Biotechnology Associateship, awarded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and the Overseas Biotechnology Associateship, also awarded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, in 1993-94 for training in Immunology at Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and in Proteomics at Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, U.S.A, respectively.

Dr Aparna Srikantam completed her graduation in Medicine in 1997 and Postgraduation in Microbiology in 2001 from S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, AP. She has five years experience in research and medical teaching. During her MD, She was trained in teaching undergraduate medical students, organization of microbiology laboratory, diagnosis of microbial infections and research in the field of infectious diseases. Her thesis was on role of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital and community acquired infections. Dr. Aparna has served as Medical Officer in  Urban  health

care project run by Dept of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of AP till 2002, working for general and antenatal health care. She has then joined Blue Peter research center. Dr Aparna has experience of being both Principal and Co invetigator for various research projects in TB, leprosy and HIV. Most of her research was funded by LEPRA. She worked on the drug resistance surveillance projects in geographical areas of AP and Orissa, diagnosis of lymph node TB and antibiotic treatment policy for secondary infections in leprosy plantar ulcers. She has presented various papers in national and international conferences and published research papers. Her main research interest includes the development of a rapid and simple diagnostic test for TB and test for drug resistance in TB and leprosy. She has received the second best paper award from Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists-AP Chapter in 2003. She has received the Young Scientist grant from Dept of Science and technology in the year 2004 for research on extra pulmonary TB.

Dr. Aparna Srikantam has an experience in teaching MBBS (NTRUHS), M. Sc and as a Co supervisor for MD (NTRUHS) and PhD (JNTU). She has attended hands on trainings in Molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases (AIIMS, 2000), immuno diagnosis of infectious diseases (DBT and MGIMS, Sevagram 2001), mycobacterial culture and drug susceptibility testing (National TB institute, 2003), and training on DOTS under Revised National TB control programme (AP State TB Training and demonstration center, 2003). She has undergone trainers training on HIV care (sponsored by CII and Australian Govt), External Quality assurance in HIV testing (AP State AIDS Control Society) and Injection safety in HIV testing centers in 2006 (AP State AIDS Control Society, PATH and LEPRA). Dr Aparna has organized practical trainings in diagnosis of TB, Leprosy and HIV for laboratory technicians and nurse practitioners employed by APSACS and LEPRA. Bio safety and bio waste management being one of her areas of interests, Dr Aparna is one of the members of the Institutional biosafety committee of BPRC. She has coordinated the training on “Injection safety and bio waste management in HIV testing centers” (Sponsored by APSACS, PATH and LEPRA). She has participated in the National Working group meeting on “Women microbicides in HIV control” in 2006, sponsored by PATH, India.