The recent passing away of Professor K. Taranath Shetty, is an immense loss to clinical biochemistry and medicine in India.

Dr. Shetty�s contributions to the field of biochemistry were numerous, both to the science and the profession of clinical biochemistry. Born on 20th June, 1947, he obtained his Master�s degree in Medical Biochemistry from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal in 1972. He subsequently earned his doctorate from the Haffkine Institute in Bombay, in 1977, for research in the area of Neuro-Endocrinology and Neurochemistry with special reference to the Psyco-Neuroendocrine effect of contraceptive steroids.

Dr Shetty started his academic career as Senior Consultant and Head of the Biochemistry Department of Choitram Hospital and Research Institute, Indore in 1980. He then moved to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, in 1982 as Associate Professor of Neurochemistry. From 2002-2004, he was Dean of this institution. He was Professor and Head of the Neurochemistry Department at the time of his passsing.

Professor Shetty published more than 75 original research articles on the dynamics of brain specific protein phosphorylation, neuro-endocrinological aspects of AIDS, neuropsychiatric disorders and related areas, in various peer-reviewed journals. His experience in laboratory medicine spanning more than 30 years included the automation of biochemical diagnostics and contributions to the specialised area of the diagnosis of inborn metabolic disorders (IMDs). He was an invited speaker at various national and international scientific meetings.
As a member of Ethical committee at NIMHANS, he produced the �Ethical Guidelines for Research Involving Human subjects�; he also authored the Examination Manual for the institute. Professor Shetty was actively involved in setting analytical facilities for screening substances of abuses and special diagnostics for IMDs and developing newer laboratory methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of neuropsychiatric disorders in NIMHANS, Banglore. Professor Shetty was also a lead and technical assessor of National Accrediation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) of the Government of India for laboratory accreditation (ISO-15189:2003).

Professor Shetty�s contributions to the ACBI were immense. He served the ACBI as its General Secretary (2002-2004), Vice President (1994-1995), Organizing Secretary for 30th Annual Meeting of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (2004) and as President (2004-2005). He was awarded the GS Seth Medical College and KEM Hospital Oration in 2003, the Fellowship of ACBI (FACBI) in 2005 and the TN Pattabhiraman Oration in 2006. He was the Chairperson of ACBI Corporate Wing at the time of his passing. Professor Shetty was also an active member of Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry (IJCB) Editorial Board.

Besides his involvement in ACBI, Professor Shetty was also a member of various professional bodies such as the Society of Biological Chemists of India (SBCI), Indian Academy of Neuro Sciences (IANS), Indian Association of Neuro Chemical Society (INCS), Bangalore Neurological Society, Association for the promotion of DNA fingerprinting and other DNA Technologies (ADNAT), International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN. Internationally, he was the National Representative of ACBI to International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the Asian and Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry (APFCB).

Professor Shetty was the recipient of various international fellowships: Visiting Scientist in 1985 to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Rockville, MD-USA; Fogarty International Visiting Scientist from 1991-1994 to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Indian clinical biochemistry has lost a dedicated and much-liked scientist who was a warm and wonderful human being. He was a stalwart of the ACBI and a pillar of strength. It will not be easy for many of us close to him to reconcile with his absence. His dedication to the profession was an inspiration to all. The members of ACBI, who derived strength from his words and deeds, will fondly remember him.

A devoted family man, Professor Shetty is survived by his wife Mamtha, a psychiatrist, and two sons, Karthik and Kaushal.

(This obituitary was submitted by colleagues of the ACBI)