Dr. Harbans Lal, Ph.D.
BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Lal began his long and profitable career in India at Punjab University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He later migrated to the United States where he completed first a Masters degree from the University of Kansas and then his Doctoral degree from the University of Chicago.

Over the years, Dr. Lal held various teaching and research positions at the University of Kansas, University of Chicago and University of Rhode Island. In 1980 he accepted his last position of Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmacology and Neurosciences at the medical college of the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Lal is known for his research in the areas of behavioral medicine, prevention and healing of nerve cell injury, and prolongation of health span.

Dr. Lal wrote the fist book on neuro-protection, a term he popularized to refer to modes and mechanisms employed for the prevention of acute or chronic nerve cell injury, in addition to neuro- regeneration as a strategy for promotion of healing and sprouting of the surviving brain cells upon the death of their neighboring neurons. Neurons are selectively vulnerable to injury and death due to high demand for energy and specific chemical composition that makes them preferentially susceptible to free radicals, primarily oxyradical, damage. These radicals originate in the cellular environments as a result of food digestions and many continuous biochemical processes. Damage to nerve cells is the basis of several disabling diseases such as, stroke related disabilities, Alzheimer's dementia, senile dementias, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and many chronic mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. Further, it is the basis of many disabilities simply related to the processes of aging of all body organs.

He serves on many national and international advisory boards including serving for 14 years as the Editor of a monthly journal, Drug Development Research. During his career, he has published over 400 research papers, 26 books, several research reviews and 56 chapters in technical books.

Dr. Lal remains active in many civic activities related to health, culture and community services. He is an avid public speaker to community groups.

• Dr. Lal serves as the Founder President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies established for the promotion of scholarly works on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib
• On April 14, 1999, the Anandpur Sahib Foundation awarded him the Order of Nishan-e-Khalsa for “his superb accomplishments in promoting the glory and pride of the Khalsa Panth.”
• In 1995, he was awarded a Doctor of Literature, Honoris Causa, from the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. ..Source- Megabiotics, Inc
• In 1988, he was elected as the national president of Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America.
• Member of the Interfaith Council of the Center for World Thanksgiving, The Interfaith Center at Fort Worth, and advisor to the American Project on Religion and the News Media,
• Advisors-at-large to THE SIKH TIMES, and to the Sikh Foundation.
• He is a founding trustee of Bhai Nanad Lal Foundation and Founder Vice-President of the Sri Nanakana Sahib Foundation.
• Dr. Lal serves as the Founder President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies established for the promotion of scholarly works on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

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  Presently, Dr. Lal’s interests lie in promoting Sikh Studies in North America. His writings on Sikh subjects have appeared in many books and journals such as Sikh Sansar, Sikh Review, Sikh Courier International, Spokesman, Sikh Marg, Studies in Sikhism and Comparative Religion, From Both Sides of the Ocean, Miri Piri, Sach Khand Patraka, Sikh Virsa, Atam Science, Understanding Sikhism: the Research Journal, International Journal of Sikh Spiritualism, Amrit Kirtan, Sachkhand Patrika, the Tribune, Times of India, Dallas Morning News, and Gurbani Is Jag Meh Chanan. He contributes frequent columns in the religious section of the Dallas Morning News and serves on the editorial boards of the Sikh Review, International Journal of Sikh Spiritualism, and Understanding Sikhism: the Research Journal.
  
  

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