(March, 2008) -- It is with heartfelt regret that the National Foundation for Cancer Research mourns the loss of Advisory Board member and Research and Scientific Entrepreneur, Kris Venkat, Ph.D.

Dr. Venkat had served as an Advisory Board member to the NFCR since 2004 and was a trusted, knowledgeable source and advisor to the organization. His experience and awareness of the scientific community, the growth opportunities in the pharmaceutical sciences and his commitment to helping people ease the pain and suffering caused by cancer was an inspiration to many. “Dr. Venkat was a lofty intellectual, a very humble human being and an extremely loving and caring person.” said Sunil Bhaskaran, Managing Director of Indusbiotech Pvt Ltd.

Dr. Venkat born and raised in Madras, India. received his bachelor’s degree from I.I.T., Madras, graduating first in his 1968 chemical engineering class. Completing his M.S., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University, he was a Walter Russell Scholar and a recipient of the Merck Foundation Fellowship. He later received his Doctor of Science degree from the National University of Ireland.

Dr. Venkat was an experienced entrepreneur, investor, manager and teacher. Among many great leadership positions throughout his life, Dr. Venkat most recently served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sundari Enterprises, Inc. and as Chairman of Provid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also served as Chairman of Thar Technologies, Inc., Thar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sapient Research, Inc., Anvebor S.A.R.L., and Pharmexx India Ltd. He was the founder and chairman of the supervisory boards for Anvebor S.A.R.L., OSE Oncology Services S.A.R.L. and Innovative Enzyme Products (IEP) GmbH, all based in Germany, and Aescula Pharma based in Switzerland. In addition, he was Vice Chairman of Transvivo, Inc. and Omicia, Inc. Due to his extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, he served on the boards of Celsion (Amex:CLN); GUSA, Inc., Strand Life Sciences Ltd; Pharmexx GmbH, Phytica, Inc. and Eleos, Inc., and was a Senior Advisor to Techno Venture Management (TVM), one of Europe’s premier venture capital funds.

Dr. Venkat was appointed Vice President and Management Board member of a major Heinz subsidiary at 33 and served as chairman and chief executive officer of Phyton, Inc. as well as Geschaftsführer (managing director) of its German subsidiary (Phyton GmbH) and built up this highly successful biotechnology company, whose primary technology platform is plant cell culture production of high value compounds including Taxol®, a blockbuster oncology drug (which enjoyed a peak sales of over $1.6 billion/year), marketed by Bristol Myers Squibb, helping to ease the suffering of millions of cancer patients lives around the world.

Dr. Venkat also served as a visiting professor of biochemical engineering at Rutgers University and held visiting faculty positions at Yale University; Dartmouth College; Anna University, Madras; IIT, Delhi; UNAM, Mexico; University of Val Paresio, Chile and University College, Galway, Ireland. He authored more than one hundred publications and held several patents. He was an adviser to the government of India for more than a decade and played a key role in the development of biotechnology strategies, including the establishment of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) at the federal level.

“Kris Venkat epitomized the very essence of entrepreneurial research,” said Franklin C. Salisbury, Jr., President of the National Foundation for Cancer Research. “His knowledge, depth and experience, made him someone our Board and staff turned to for solid advice. He will be deeply missed by all.”

Dr. Venkat was the recipient of numerous awards and citations and was a fellow/member of many learned societies.

In addition to his scientific pursuits, Dr. Venkat pursued a personal passion by co-founding Goosecross Cellars, Inc. in Napa Valley, California in 1985 where he happily spent as much free time as he could find to perfect and guide the production and marketing of a line of premium boutique wines under the brand names Goosecross® and Aeros®.

Dr. Venkat’s other more personal interests include classical music, literature and cooking. He studied violin with Professor Barbara Benary and assisted her in establishing the “Son-of-Lion orchestra” which performed in the Greater New York area for many years. He frequented opera performances in Europe and the USA and attended the Carnatic Music Kutcheri Season in Madras regularly.

Even with all his glowing entrepreneurial accomplishments, it was Dr. Venkat’s compassion that stood out. ,“For me, it wasn't so much the entrepreneurial successes of Dr. Venkat that stood out, but his human side ... his readiness anytime to bring his network to bear to help others.” said Raju Rajagopal, a colleague of Dr. Venkat

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) was founded in 1973 to support cancer research and public education relating to the prevention, early diagnosis, better treatment, and ultimately, a cure for cancer. NFCR promotes and facilitates collaboration among scientists to accelerate the pace of discovery from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. NFCR is committed to Research for a Cure – cures for all types of cancers. To learn more about NFCR or to make a donation,
please visit www.NFCR.org or call 1-800-321-CURE (2873).
For more information, please contact Silas Deane, VP Communications, National Foundation for Cancer Research ; sdeane@nfcr.org.