Noted scientist PK Seth no more, Lucknow mourns loss

LUCKNOW: Former director of Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) and the first CEO of Lucknow's Biotech Park, PK Seth, died on Thursday following cardiac arrest.
He was 79 and is survived by a son and two daughters. Seth was undergoing treatment at AIIMS Delhi for the last few days and had undergone a surgery recently.
The news of his demise brought a wave of grief among people of the scientific fraternity.
"It is a personal loss to me as he was my PhD guide and mentor. He always stood by me in good and bad times. He was very empathetic towards members of the economically weaker sections. I will miss his counsel," said former IITR director and current director of Centre of Biomedical Research Alok Dhawan.
He added that Seth contributed enormously to various areas of toxicology and was instrumental in setting up the first plastic testing facility at IITR.
"He was known for his stellar contributions in neurotoxicology and reproductive toxicology. He mentored dozens of PhD and MD students. India has lost a great toxicologist and institution builder," he said.
Condoling his death, senior principal scientist of IITR Rajnish Chaturvedi said: "Seth sir always motivated young scholars and scientists. I was a PhD scholar in 2001 at IITR and got the privilege to work with him at the IITR's developmental toxicology laboratory which was headed by him."
He added Seth founded the Indian Academy of Neurosciences and made notable contributions to molecular biology and biotechnology related to health sciences, particularly understanding the effect of chemicals and drugs on the nervous system.
"Prahlad has been one of my best friends and a class fellow. A very versatile and dynamic scientist he has been responsible for establishing and promoting biotech parks in North India. He will be badly missed by scientific community of CSIR," said veteran actor and scientist Anil Rastogi.
Seth was instrumental in the planning and building of a state-of-the-art Biotech Park in the city and was its first CEO.
He has been recipient of several awards, and elected fellow of premiere national and international academies.
Seth was member of several committees of ICMR, DRDO, DST, DBT, MOEF, ILSI and their task force.