Dr. Narendra Tuteja (2nd from Right) in the labs at ICGEB Trieste in 1989 with (L-R) former ICGEB Director, Prof. Arturo Falaschi, Dr. Renu Tuteja and Prof. Rita Levi-Montalcini
Dr. Narendra Tuteja, Distinguished Plant Molecular Biologist, Former Group Leader, Plant Molecular Biology, ICGEB New Delhi has passed away at the age of 71.
Dr. Tuteja’s scientific career at ICGEB spans from 1988 to 2015: seven years in Trieste, Italy, followed by twenty years at ICGEB New Delhi, India.
His chronology, fellowships and honours are documented by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and The World Academy of Sciences. His research in Trieste includes the 1990 characterisation of a DNA helicase from human cells and the 1994 identification of human DNA helicase II as the Ku autoantigen. He was a close collaborator of former ICGEB Director, Prof. Arturo Falaschi.
Dr. Tuteja joined ICGEB New Delhi in February 1995 as a Scientist and subsequently became Group Leader of the Plant Molecular Biology Group, a position he held until his retirement on 31 January 2015. Through his scientific contributions and dedicated work, he played an important role in advancing research in plant molecular biology. Dr. Tuteja did pioneering work on plant helicases and their role in plant development and stress tolerance. His work included the influential study of PDH45 and s’salt-tolerant plants and later research on stress-tolerant rice.
He is consistently ranked among the “World’s 2% Top Scientists” for career-long citations (Stanford/Elsevier Data Repository) together with ICGEB scientists Dr. Lawrence Banks, Dr. Emanuele Buratti, Dr. Sneh Lata Singla Pareek, Dr. Renu Tuteja and Dr. Sudhir Sopory.
The ICGEB community extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Dr. Renu Tuteja, his two sons, his extended family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and had the pleasure of working with him.
