Gundu H.R. Rao, Ph.D.

Professor
Lillehei Heart Institute
231 Cancer Center Research Bldg
425 East River Rd
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Email: raoxx001@umn.edu
Phone: 612 626 2717

Research Interests

Platelet biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology; cellular activation signaling mechanisms; anti-platelet drug delivery and platelet –biomaterial interactions. He runs a core facility for Biomedical Engineering Institute for the development and testing of biomedical devices for Point-of-Care applications.

Research and Development Projects:

NIH/STTR Studies: Rapid Detection of Bacteria in Platelet Concentrates
NIH/STTR Studies: Rapid Detection of Aspirin Resistance in Human Subjects.
Development of a Point-of-Care assay for Monitoring Anti-platelet Therapy (PlaCor Inc, Minneapolis, MN)

Outreach and Community Education Projects:

Dr. Rao is also interested in the general area of biochemical and molecular markers for risk assessment for type-2 diabetes and vascular diseases.  He is the founder of South Asian Society on Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis. He organizes international symposium in India on “Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, every other year. He has edited four books on the subject.

Selected Publications:

BOOKS:

Rao GHR: Hand Book of Platelet Physiology and Pharmacology. Kluwer Academic Publications. USA 1999.

Rao GHR, Kakkar V. V: Coronary Artery Disease in South Asians: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention. JP Medical Publishers, India. 2001.

Rao GHR, Thanikachalam, S: Coronary Artery Disease: Risk Promoters, Pathophysiology and Prevention. JP Medical Publishers, India. 2005.

Rao GHR, Eastlund T, Jagannathan, L: Handbook of Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine. JP Medical Publishers, India. 2005

Rao, GHR, Mohan V:  Type-2 Diabetes in South Asians: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Prevention. JP Medical Publishers, New Delhi, India. 2006

PUBLICATIONS (Partial list from over three hundred publications)

Rao GHR: Aspirin Resistance: Need for a Point-of-Care Assay. In: Frontiers in Atherosclerosis Research (Ed: Kepper) Nova Science Publishers Inc, New York 2007 pp191-213.

Rao GHR, Michiels Jan Jaques: Aspirin Resistance: Does it exist? Sem Thromb. Hemost.33:210-214, 2007

Rao GHR: Aspirin Resistance: A fact or a myth? Clin Cardiol 10:17-20, 2005.

Rao GHR: Aspirin Resistance: Need For Point-of-Care Assay. World Heart Journal. 1:63-78, 2006.

 Rao GHT: Platelet Hyperfunction as Risk Factor for Chronic and Acute Coronary Events. Toxicol. Mechanisms and Methods. 15: 425-431. 2005.

Chandy T, GHR Rao, Wilson RF, Das GS: Delivery of LMW Heparin via surface coated Chitosan-/peg-Alginate Micro-spheres prevents thrombosis. Drug Delivery 9:87-96, 2002.

Chandy T, GHR Rao: Preparation of surface engineered elastin/laminin nerve guide tubes of Poly (lactic acid) Poly(ethylene glycol). J.Bioactive and Compatible Polymers. 17:183-195, 2002.

Das GS, Rao GHR, Wilson RF, Chandy T: Controlled delivery of Taxol from polyethylene glycol coated poly (lactic acid) microspheres. J. of   Biomater. Res. 55:96-103, 2001.

Chandy T, Rao GHR, Wislon RF, Das GS: Development of poly (lactic acid)/chitosan co-matrix microshperes: controlled release of taxol, heparin for preventing restenosis. Drug Delivery 8:77-86, 2001.

Chandy T, Das GS, Rao GHR: 5-Fluorouracil-loaded chitosan coated polylactic acid microspheres as biodegradable drug carriers for cerebral tumors. J.Microencapsulation. 17: 625-638, 2000.

Chandy T, Rao GHR: Evaluation of heparin immobilized Chitosan-PEG microbeads for charcoal encapsulation and endotoxin removal. Art. Cells,  Blood Subs. &  Immob. Biotech. 28: 65-77, 2000.

Rao GHR, Chandy, T: Role of platelets in blood-biomaterial interactions. Bull of Mater. Sci 22: 101-107, 1999.

Chandy T, Das GS, Wilson RF, Rao GHR: Surface modification of immobilized biomolecules on albumin modified porcine pericardium for preventing thrombosis and calcification. Intern. J. Artif. Organs. 22: 547-558, 1999.

Chandy T, Mooradian DL, Rao GHR: Evaluation of modified Alginate-Chitosan-PEG microcapsules for cell encapsulation. Artif. Organs. 23: 894-903, 1999.

Chandy T, Vasudev SC and Rao GHR: Changes in Pericardial Calcification Due to Antiplatelet Agents: In Vitro Studies. Art Org 22:667-671, 1998.

Chandy T, Mooradian DL and Rao GHR: Platelet Adhesion and Spreading on Protein Coated Surfaces: Variation in Behavior in Washed Cells, PRP and Whole Blood. J Biom Appl 13:46-65, 1998.

Rao GHR Peller JD White JG: Influence of ionized calcium on thrombin-induced down-regulation of GP1b/IX receptors on human platelets. Thromb. Res 85: 23-31, 1997.

White JG,  Rao GHR: Thrombin-induced inhibition of platelet agglutination by von Willebrand factor (vWF): Reversal by ionized calcium. Platelets 7: 321-328, 1996.

White JG, and Rao GHR: Aggregated-disaggregated, refractory platelets retain sensitivity to ristocetin. Thromb. Res. 84: 253-256, 1996.

Escolar G, Rao, GHR Nieuwenhuis K, White JG: Ultrastructure expression of P-selectin on surface - activated platelets. Platelets 7: 297-301, 1996.

Padoni E, Alexandre A, Cavalline L, Rao GHR, Doni MG: Human platelet activation is inhibited by the occupancy of glycoprotein 11b/111a receptor. Arch Biochem Biophys 333: 407-413, 1996.

Rao GHR,  Parthasarathy S: Antioxidants, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Prost. Leukot. Essen Fatty Acids 54: 155-166, 1996.

Rao GHR: Effect of Exercise on Platelet Physiology and Pharmacology. In: Pharmacology in Exercise and Sports ( SM Somani ed) CRC Press, Boca Raton pp211-234, 1996.

Murthy M, Rao GHR, Robinson P, Reddy S: Influx of extracellular calcium and agonist-coupling appear essential for the activation of thromboxane A₂-dependent phospholipase A₂ in human platelets. Prost. Leuko. Essen. Fatty Acids 53:31-39, 1995.

Rao GHR: Physiology and Pharmacology of Platelets. Int. J. Progr. Cardiovas. Sci. 2: 108-110, 1995.

Reddy S, Bose R, Rao GHR, Murthy M: Phospholipase A2 activation in human neutrophils requires influx of extracellular Calcium and leukotriene B4. Am. J. Physiol. 268: 155-168, 1995.

Rao GHR, Escolar G, White JG: Monitoring signal transduction and cytoskeletal alterations by fluorescent imaging and confocal microscopy. Ann NY Acad Sci 714:297-300, 1994.

Murthy M, Rao GHR, Reddy S: 1,3-dicotonyl glycerol (1,3diC₈) is as effective as I, 2-diC₈ in priming phospholipase A₂ activation in human platelets. Biochem. Med. Met Biol 52:89-96, 1994.

Reddy S, Rao GHR, Murthy M: Differential effects of phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate and diacylglycerols on thromboxane A₂ dependent phospholipase A₂ in collagen-stimulated human platelets. Biocehm Med. Met. Biol 51: 118-128, 1994.

Rao GHR, white JG: Influence of various doses of aspirin (in vivo) on platelet arachidonic acid metabolism (in vitro) and function. Prost Leuk. Essen Fatty Acids 51:63-69, 1994.