Chandra Ramarao joined Avra Laboratories on April 1, 2003. He coordinates the research and business development activities at Avra. Chandra obtained his PhD (1996-1999) from Cambridge University, UK, under the supervision of Prof. Ian Fleming, FRS and developed a method to induce 1,5 stereo-centers in open-chain (acyclic) systems. He remained at Cambridge and did a post-doc (Zeneca-SRF, 1999-2002) with Prof. Steven V. Ley, FRS and the research work was done in collaboration with Syngenta, AstraZeneca and Avecia and led to the development of Pd-EnCatTM. His past research work encompasses: stereo-controlled synthesis, nano-particulate transition-metal catalysis, development of microencapsulation techniques, development of solid-supported reagents - polystyrene and silica (MCM-41, etc) based and use of ionic liquids and super critical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) as alternative solvents.

About the Zeneca-SRF

      Zeneca used to operate a Strategic Research Fund (SRF) for sponsoring collaborative research projects that were likely to be of cross-business interest. In those days, Zeneca had separate Agrochemical, Pharmaceutical and Specialties divisions. The proposal to microencapsulate catalysts was envisaged to have a broad impact in manufacturing or fine chemicals and also in research. The expertise to realise the project goals would also come from several sites in all three divisions, for example Formulation (microencapsulation expertise), Process Engineering and scale up, Research Chemistry etc. In 1999, the project was started with one postdoc - Dr Chandra Ramarao at Cambridge with Prof Steven Ley, a world-renowned expert in the synthetic applications of supported reagents. As a result of the demerger of various parts of Zeneca around the early stages of the project, Syngenta, Avecia and AstraZeneca all retained involved as former constituents of Zeneca. As the project progressed and positive results emerged from Chandra's research, then all three companies provided extra resources to tackle particular aspects - encapsulation process and research applications at Syngenta, scale up of reactions using the catalysts at AZ and scale up and optimisation of the encapsulated catalyst manufacture at Avecia, along with detailed analysis and characterisation. Thus the project became a true team effort and results were shared across all 4 organisations. The technology was patented with inventors from all of the parties. In 2004 Avecia were able to launch a spin-out company (Reaxa) largely on the back of the new 'EnCat' catalyst range.

The success of the project has been recognised by three UK awards:

      . The CIA Innovation award 2004

      . The Institute of Applied Catalysis Innovation award 2004

      . The Royal Society of Chemistry Team Innovation Award 2005