Organizing Committee Member
Harpal S. Buttar
Senior Scientist,Therapeutic Products Directorate
University of Ottawa
Canada
Biography
Dr. Buttar received his degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1961 from the Punjab University, Chandigarh, India. Before coming to Canada, he was Lecturer for about 2 years in the Department of Pharmacology (1961-1963) in his first alma mater, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hissar. In January 1964, he was awarded an overseas scholarship by the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he completed his MSc and PhD degrees in Pharmacology in 1966 and 1970, respectively. After a post-doctoral stint at the Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA, he joined as a Research Scientist level-1 (August 1971) at the Health Protection Branch, Ottawa, and was promoted to the rank of Research Scientist level-5 in April 1997 (highest scientific rank in the Federal Govt.). He conducted in vitro and in vivo studies in Pharmacology as well as in Reproductive & Developmental Toxicology. He was Head of the Reproductive Toxicology Section from 1977-1991. Dr. Buttar has worked as a Senior Scientist & Assessment Officer in the Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Canada, and retired in January 2013. As an Assessment Officer, his roles and responsibilities included risk/benefit assessment of urology and anti-diabetic drugs, and hormonal contraceptive products, as well as regulatory decision making for the pre-marketing approval of drugs in the Reproduction & Urology Division, Bureau of Metabolism, Oncology and Reproductive Sciences. Additionally, he has a continuing interest in the R & D of drug discovery and in academic teaching. Since May 1994-Present, he has held cross-appointment of Adjunct Professorship in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Medical College, University of Ottawa, Canada. Previously, he also held the positions of Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada. He is also a scientific consultant to the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. In June 2013, Dr. Buttar was appointed Visiting Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. He is currently serving as Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, Punjab, India. At GNDU, Professor Buttar teaches a special course in Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, and helps the MPharm students in doing in vitro and in vivo studies and designing experimental protocols to evaluate the therapeutic potential of drugs and plant-derived products in animal models
Research Area
Pharmacology/toxicology and Prevention of cardiovascular diseases He is the author and co-author of three book chapters and 86 research and review papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Buttar has presented 165 papers at National and International Conferences, and has been guest speaker for 91 lectures, seminars, symposia, and workshops