Neuropharmacology

Biography

Hari Shanker Sharma, Director of Research (International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair, IECNSIR), University Hospital, Uppsala University is Professor of Neurobiology (MRC), Docent in Neuroanatomy (UU) and is currently affiliated with Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden. Hari Sharma was born on January 15, 1955 in an Industrialist town Dalmianagar (Bihar), India. He did his Bachelor of Science with Honors from the prestigious L. S. College Muzaffarpur in 1973 and secured 1st position in his batch. He obtained his Master Degree from Bihar University with special expertise in Cell Biology in 1976 and awarded Gold Medal of Bihar University for securing 1st potion in the 1st Class. Hari Sharma joined the group of Professor Prasanta Kumar Dey, a neurophysiologist by training in the Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical; Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1977 to obtain Doctor of Philosophy Degree (D.Phil.) in Neurosciences and was awarded Ph.D. in 1982 on “Blood-Brain Barrier in Stress.” Hari Sharma after carrying out a series of Government of India funded Research Projects on the BBB and brain dysfunction (1982–1987), joined the lab of Neuropathology at Uppsala University with Professor Yngve Olsson in 1988 to investigate passage of tracer transport across the BBB caused by stress or traumatic insults to the Brain and Spinal cord at light and electron microscopy. Dr. Sharma awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship of German Government (1989–1991) to work on hyperthermia induced BBB dysfunction at the ultrastructural level in the laboratory of Professor Jorge Cervós-Navarro (a living “Legend in Neuropathology in Europe”). Dr. Sharma joined again Uppsala University and established a network of collaboration on “Experimental CNS Injury Research Group” as a lead investigator with eminent collaborators in various parts of Europe, USA, and Australia (1991–). On his work on hyperthermia Dr. Sharma received the prestigious Neuroanatomy award “Rönnows Research prize” of Uppsala University for “best neuroanatomical research of the year 1996” followed by the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences of Uppsala University in Neuroanatomy in 1999 and selected for the Best Thesis Award of the Medical faculty, “The Hwassers Prize” of 1999. On his meticulous works on the Blood Brain barrier and Brain edema (2000–2003) Dr. Sharma earned the prestigious title of “Docent in Neuroanatomy” of Medical Faculty, Uppsala University in April 2004. Currently his main research interest is Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration, in relation to the Blood-brain barrier in stress, trauma, and drugs of abuse in health and disease. Dr. Sharma on his research on brain pathology and neuroprotection in different models received the prestigious awards from The Laerdal Foundation of Acute Medicine, Stavanger, Norway, in 2005 followed by Distinguished International Scientists Collaboration Award by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Baltimore, MD (2006–2008). His recent work on 5-HT3 receptor mediated neuroprotection in morphine withdrawal induced neurotoxicity won the coveted prize of Best Investigator Award 2008 and Best Scientific Presentation by European Federation of the International Association for Study of Pain (ISAP), and Awarded during their VI Annual Meeting in Lisbon, September 9–12, 2008. His recent research is aimed to find out the role of nanoparticles in Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection using various treatment strategies that is supported by European Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), London, UK and US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Oh, USA. On his works on Blood–brain barrier in hypertension and diabetes together with Romanian colleagues, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu,” Cluj-Napoca, Romania awarded Dr. Sharma with Honorary Doctorate of Medical Sciences in 2009. Dr. Sharma’s work over 30 years on the blood-brain barrier and brain edema won him the US Neurosurgeon Dr. Anthony Marmarou Award (2011) by the International Brain Edema Society at their 15th Congress in Tokyo, Japan, November 20–24, 2011. His works on Nanoneuroscience and development of nanomedicine to treat the CNS injuries has won accolades at various Government and International Scotties or Organization across the World. Accordingly Dr Sharma was decorated with the most prestigious “Hind Rattan Award 2012” (Jewel of India) on the eve of Republic Day of India 25th January 2012 and Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Gold Medal on October 12, 2012 in House of Lords, London, UK. Based on his outstanding contribution in Nanoneuropharmacology and nanodrug delivery to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases including Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Hari Sharma bestowed with Prestigious Gujarat Govt. International Visionary Award 2012 in a glittering function in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Nov 23, 2012. His further research on co-morbidity factors e.g., hypertension or diabetes may alter pathophysiology of brain injuries and require higher drug dose or nanodrug delivery of neuroprotective agents to minimize brain dysfunction is recognized by Govt. of India by presenting him one of the coveted “Bharat Jyoti Award 2013” (Glory of India) by His Excellency Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh in Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi on Jan 12, 2013. Dr Sharma also received the highest Award of the Govt. of India “Navrattan Award 2013” (Nine Jewels of India) on the eve of 64th Republic Day of India (25th January 2013) by His Excellency Governor Bhishma Narain Singh, in Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. Hari Sharma is Founding President of the Global College of Neuroprotection & Neuroregeneration (2004-); Elected President of International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) (2014-); and selected Senior Expert of Asia-Pacific CEO Association, Worldwide (APCEO) (2012-) for his contribution to uplift scientific research in many countries Globally that may have better economic and social benefit for the mankind. Based on his expertise in Nanoneuroscience, Hari Sharma was also invited to organize and chair Nanosymposium in Society for Neuroscience meetings in Chicago (2009), San Diego (2010), Washington DC (2011), New Orleans (2012), San Diego (2013) and Washington DC (2014 to be held Nov 15-19, 2014). Hari Sharma is also the recipient of Prestigious US TechConnect Global Innovation Award 2013 at the National Innovation Summit & Innovation Showcase, Washington DC May 12-16, 2013 on his work on Nanowired cerebrolysin in Neuropathic Pain. Hari Sharma Served as one of the Poster Judges in 2014 Annual Meeting of American Association fo Advancement of Science (AAAS) Held in Chicago, IL, USA Feb 13-17, 2014. Hari Sharma has published over 400 research papers, 85 reviews, 14 monographs, and 80 international book chapters and edited 18 book volumes. He served as Guest Editor of Curr. Pharm. Desig. (2005, 2007, 2010–); J Neural. Transmiss. (2006, 2011–) and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Int. J. Neuroprotec. Neuroregen. (2004–), UK and the European Editor of Central Nervous system-Neurological Disorders Drug Target (2013-). Dr. Sharma is on board of various International Journals including CNS and Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, USA (2010), Journal of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, USA (2009–); Austin Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology (2014-); and is associate editor of Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Nanoneuroscience 2006–), USA, Review Editor—Frontiers in Neuroengineering (2007–), Frontiers in Neurorestoratology, and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2008–), Frontiers of Fractal Physiology (2010–), Switzerland, Journal of Neurorestoratology, Dove Medical press, London, UK (2012–), WebMD Central, Neurology Faculty, Advisory Board Member (2010–), World Journal of Pharmacology (2011–), Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, USA (2012–). Dr. Sharma served as volume editor of several progress in Brain research series (Volumes 104, 115, 162 and 180), International review of Neurobiology (Volume 82 and 102) and other Springer Volumes on Spinal cord injury (1988) and Handbook of Neurochemistry (2009) apart from stand alone books (Elsevier, Springer and Academic Press since 1994). Dr. Hari Sharma is invited to join several National Academies of repute including New York Academy fo Science, USA (since 1994–); International Academy of Stress, New York (2003–), Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2010–). Dr. Sharma has served as an expert evaluator and advisor to various Boards, Councils and Institutions for their Research Grants including Wellcome Trust, London, UK (2011–); Catalan Agency for Health Information and Quality, TV3 (2010–), European Commission Projects (2002–), European Nanomed Council (2009–), Ministry of Health Science Foundation; Medical research Council and University Commission of Grants in various countries in Europe, USA, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and in Australia. Some of the notable organizations include: Australia and New Zealand Health Council (2000–); University Commission of Grants, Hong Kong (2002–), Singapore Medical Council, Singapore (2003–); UK Charity Organization “Research on Ageing: Help the Aged” (2003–); Euro Nanomed (2010–). Dr. Sharma is designated as ambassador of the City of Uppsala 2007, by Uppsala County administration and Uppsala Tourism for promoting Uppsala, Sweden as International Research Collaboration/Meetings and Conference Destination. Dr. Hari Sharma is married to Aruna Sharma (nee Bajpai) since 23rd April 1979 and has two sons. His political affiliations belong to Swedish Social Democrat Party (Socialdemokraterna, Sverige) where he is associated with the development of Education and Research matters in Sweden actively

Research Interest

Neurobiology, Nanoneuroscience