Biography
Dr. Saxena isolated pituitary hormones from human pituitary glands provided by the National Pituitary Agency for basic, diagnostic, and clinical research. Dr. Saxenas structure function studies led to the identification of hormone non-specific α hormone specific β-hormone subunit of human Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and in the development of radioimmunoassay of pituitary gonadotropins and other hormones.
A key contribution was to elucidate the daily blood levels of FSH and LH and their correlation with gonadal steroids in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Dr. Saxenas continuing interest in reproductive endocrinology, led to the isolation of the lutroprin receptor, which led to the development of ovulation detection and the first early reliable pregnancy test during 1974-1976, which assists women in fertility regulation and protects women from abortion in the absence of pregnancy. Taken together, Dr. Saxenas research provides the hallmark of early diagnosis and management of gonadal dysfunction, gene mutation, pregnancy, and in-vitro fertilization.
With the elucidation of the human genome and the structure of lutroprin receptor and β-hCG, Dr. Saxena has synthesized chimeric genes containing functional epitopes of the receptor and hCG-β genes to express bifunctional proteins. These proteins act as antigens and would assist in the immunological regulation of fertility as well as androgen excess syndromes in androgen dependent hyperplasia and cancer of the prostate.
Recently, Dr. Saxena has been able to chemically modify, betulonic acid, an anti-cancer agent, as Boc-lysinated betulonic acid, to render it soluble in aqueous biocompatible mediums, which was not heretofore possible. Boc-L-BA has shown striking ability to suppress up to 92% human prostate tumors implanted in athymic mice.
Dr. Saxenas current studies on drug-development and delivery systems for non-hormonal contraceptives and anti-infection agents have the promise to lead to the much-needed therapeutics to combat diseases.
Dr. Saxena has had a distinguished academic and scientific career and has provided seminal contribution to sciences towards the improvement of human health and welfare.
