Fellow of INSA in 1977 Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists (London) Specialization: Pathology; Cytopathology; Cancer Research Professor Usha Kehar Luthra was born on 21st September, 1932 in Lahore, Pakistan. She completed her M.D in 1959 from University of Delhi and Ph. D. Agra University.

She specialized in Pathology; Cytopathology, and Cancer Research.

Prof. Luthra's work spans various field of cancer research encompassing a multidisciplinary approach including experimental, epidemiological, morphological and molecular aspects-especially for the two commonest cancers in India i.e. oral and cervical cancers. Her studies have yielded new data on the epidemiological aspects and on the biological behaviour of these tumours. During the last decade, she carried out a comprehensive prospective multidisciplinary study on the natural history of cervical precancerous and early cancerous lesions, with special reference to the role of viruses with the possibility of identifying the "high risk" and "low risk" lesions. The results of this study have far-reaching consequences on the management of these cases and the results have already been incorporated in the Government of India's NATIONAL Cancer Control Programme of Control of Cancer Cervix. In addition, Dr. Luthra is responsible for developing researches in the field of communicable disease including environmental health at national level.

She has been professor of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine at Kuwait University and Head of Cytopathology Unit, Mubarak al-Kabeen Hospital, Kuwait since 1992; Additional Director General and Director, Institute of Cytology and preventive Oncology, ICMR, New Delhi (1987-92); Senior Deputy Director General and Director of Cytology Research Centre, ICMR, New Delhi (1970-86, Professor and Head, Reader, and Lecturer at the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, S.N Medical College, Agra (1959-70).

Prof. Luthra is founder fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (London) and National Academy of Medical Sciences (India); Fellow International Academy of Cytology (USA); Member, Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists and International Academy of Pathologists; Founder Member, Indian Academy of Cytologists, Indian Society of Oncologists; Corresponding Member, American Association for Cancer Research.

She has been bestowed with Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize (1964); Raja Ravi Sher Singh of Kalsia Memorial Cancer Research Award (1967); Dr. P.N. Raju Oration Award (1969); Sandoz Award (1971); Indian Academy of Cytologists Oration Award (1971); Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize (1973); Hari Om Ashram Alembic Research Award (Medical Council of India) (1981); Dr. K. N. Rao Oration Award (1981-82); Prof. P.K Haldar Memorial Oration Cancer Award (1984); Ambo Pashupati Nath Wahi Cancer Award (1984); Dr. Borges Memorial Oration Cancer Award (1985); Smt. Vimla Shah Cancer Award (1985); Susruta Oration Award for Eminent Medical Woman (1986); First Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Memorial Oration Cancer Award (1988); Erica Watchtel Memorial Oration (British Society for Clinical Cytology) (1991); Prof. Prem Nath Wahi Award (1991); Padma Shri (1920).

She has authored / co-authored two monographs on classification of tumours (issued by WHO); also contributed a chapter to a monograph on 'Cancer Research' issued by Japanese Cancer Association.

Prof. Luthra is Largely responsible for establishing a national grid for national cancer registries in the country, for initiating the national cancer control programme at the national level and for developing the network of human resource in the field of diagnostic cytology.

Professor Ush Kehar Luthra worked as a teacher, researcher and a hospital investigator. As Professor of Pathology, she introduced innovative methods of teaching pathology through experimentation, replacing the didactic methods by "ands on" experience at the undergraduate level with the main theme of undertaking research in medical education. As researcher, She has done research on control of the two most commonly encountered cancers in India, viz. cancers of the oral cavity and cervix. The results of her research have found application through the Government of India's National Cancer Control Programme. During this time she also worked as the Associate Director of the WHO International Reference Centre on oral and oropharyngeal tumours.

During 1972-92 she worked as a researcher and research manager and made significant contributions. Her research work was primarily devoted to the understanding of the precancerous states of the cancer of the uterine cervix. In an effort towards this goal and through her persuasive efforts, she was able to establish a national institute (Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology) under the Indian Council of Medical Research. This institute is primarily devoted to using a multidisciplinary approach to the understanding of the biological behaviour and control of the commonest cancer in women in India, viz. cancer of the uterine cervix.

Professor Luthra's other outstanding contribution is the establishment of the National Cancer Registry Programme in the country which now is recognized as of international standards. She was also the Head of the WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Cytology in India. Prof. Luthra has been engaged in full-time work as a teacher, researcher and a hospital investigator, as the Professor of Pathology and the Head of the Cytopathology Unit at the Faculty of Medicine and the Mubarak Al-Kabber Hospital, Kuwait University, Kuwait. She has been the Additional Director General and Director, Institute of Cytology and Preventive oncology of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

She has been bestowed with the honors of being the Fellow of Royal Society of Pathology (London); Fellow of IAC (USA); Fellow of National Academy (FNA), Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS) and INSA.

Prof. Luthra has published more than 160 research papers besides contributing chapters to several monographs published by the World Health Organization, Japanese Cancer Association, and Plenum Press.