Remembering Seetharama Acharya, Ph.D., A Patently Superb Researcher
On Saturday March 16, 2024, Dr. Seetharama Acharya, professor of oncology and of medicine at Einstein, passed away at the Virginia Mason Medical Center ICU, due to complications from head and neck cancer. He was 82.
Seetharama Acharya, Ph.D.; Oncology, Medicine; 1941 to 2024
A longtime member of medicine’s division of hematology at the College of Medicine, Dr. Acharya’s research spanned the exploration of a wide spectrum of biopolymer structures and functions, semisynthetic hybrid proteins, sickle cell disease, blood substitutes, and protein engineering, including PEGylation of proteins. His studies especially focused on the design of PEGylated therapeutic proteins and peptides, and the design of oxygen therapeutics and plasma expanders.
For many years, he was one of the premier names in the field of blood substitute research and remains highly regarded for his contributions in that field. His findings led to his publishing over 100 peer reviewed articles and being granted dozens of U.S. patents.
“The ultimate recognition for a scientist comes from seeing the impact of one’s findings on society,” noted Edward R. Burns, executive dean at Einstein and former colleague in medicine/hematology. “Seetharama was successful in opening avenues for applications of his scientific research, developing advanced and safer blood substitutes for which Phase III clinical trials were completed.”
Dr. Acharya with his wife Belur Manjula, who also was a member of the Einstein faculty.
Among his successes, the new class of extension arm chemistry PEGylated hemoglobin-based oxygen therapeutic (HBOC) that he developed was licensed by Sangart, Inc. Of significance, his contributions in developing acellular-based oxygen therapeutics led to a paradigm shift in the way the next generation of PEGylated products are being produced. Specifically, his development and use of PEGylated hemoglobin solved the longstanding problem of hypertension occurring, which plagued all previous hemoglobin-based blood substitutes.
Dr. Acharya arrived in the United States in 1970, as a staff molecular biophysicist at Yale University, following completion of his Ph.D. at the renowned department of biochemistry at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India. At Yale, he trained with Dr. Frederic Richards for four years. Then, following a two-year research stint at the National Institutes of Health with Dr. Christian Anfinsen and Dr. Hiroshi Taniuchi’s group, he moved to New York where he joined the faculty of Rockefeller University, working in the Moore and Stein lab.
He joined the Einstein faculty in 1987, as an associate professor of medicine in the division of hematology, recruited by Dr. Ronald Nagel to join the Sickle Cell Comprehensive Center. In 1990 he was promoted to professor of medicine and, later, also received appointments in oncology and developmental and molecular biology; following his retirement in 2017, he received emeritus status.
Throughout his career, Dr. Acharya forged strong relationships with his colleagues and mentees. He remained in contact after concluding his active research and moving to Seattle to be closer to his son Vivek, daughter-in-law Dr. Bhavana Dabir, and grandchildren Kai and Rish. He was a loving and devoted husband to Dr. Belur Manjula, also a former Einstein faculty member, for whom he was the primary caretaker after she tragically suffered a stroke decades ago.
Dr. Acharya is survived by Manjula, their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, his brothers Shreepathy, Ganapathy, and Uday Kumar, and sister Harini Bhat. He was predeceased by his sister Sushma Ballal.
His presence will be greatly missed by all who have had the privilege of knowing him.
Editor's Note: If you would like to leave a remembrance of Dr. Acharya or message of condolence, please visit our Remembrance page.
Posted on: Monday, April 08, 2024