Harbans Sharma, MSc, PhD, DSc

Teaching: Director of Pre-medical/Pre-Dental (Year0 of the MBChB/BDS Programmes) Course: This is 'Problem Based Learning' course to prepare students with none or partial background in Science subjects for entry into Year1 of the MBChB and BDS programmes of The University. 

Research: Radioisotopes and Radiopharmaceuticals; Their production and applications in Biological, Pharmaceutical and Medical Research.

Following graduation in 1964, Harbans went on to do an MSc in Nuclear Physics, obtaining a First class First (and a gold medal) in the University. Harbans worked as a University lecturer in India for 4 years. In July 1970 Harbans went to USA, funded by Fulbright Scholarship, for further studies and research leading to PhD in Nuclear Physics in 1974. He came to Manchester as a research associate in Nuclear Research Group in the Physics Department. In 1975, Harbans developed an interest in the Application of Nuclear Physics to Medicine and contacted Prof. B R Pullan, then the Head of the Department of Medical Biophysics (predecessor of ISBE) and embarked upon a collaborative research programme of producing novel radioisotopes for diagnostic nuclear medicine and other research projects. Success of the pilot programme led to a funding for a three year Research Associateship for Harbans by the NHS in the Department of Medical Biophysics. A number of new research programmes were established during this period and their continuity was supported by the NHS by providing funding for a tenured lecturership for Harbans in 1979. He was promoted to a Senior Lecturership in 1985. Expansion of the research programme and numerous publications in refereed journals prompted Harbans to submit a compilation of some of these for the Doctor of Science degree, which he received from the University of Manchester in 1993. In 1997, Harbans took responsibility of the Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental course and has transferred it to a Problem Based Learning (PBL) format, to be in line with the other Medical and Dental courses, and expanded it from ~12 students in 1996 to 34 in 2007.

The development of novel radiotracers for myocardial perfusion imaging based on Tc-99m-carbonyl complexes.

Pharmacokinetics and organ distribution of Polysan Polysulphate (PPS): A potential drug against vCJD

Radiolabelling polypeptides specifically synthesised to target amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Measuring uptake of non-blood derived lung perfusion agents in the animal model.

Course Tutor: Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental (year0 of MBChB/BDS Programmes). 

Lectures: 3rd. year Physics in Medicine and Biology students.

Lectures: MSc students taking Nuclear Medicine Module. 

• Mrs Anne-Marie Smith: Research collaborator and Laboratory Manager for all of my research activity
• Anti-cancer research: Prof. D Crowther, Prof B W Fox, Prof. N thacher, Dr R Cowan
• Synthesis of anti-tumour agents: Prof. C J Mcauliffe
• Epethelial cell kinetics: Prof M G Walker
• Radioisotope uptake and effects on the gonads: Prof J Hendry, Dr P Hoyes
• PET Isotopes: Prof. D Townsend (Geneva, now at Pittsburg)

• Society of Nuclear Medicine
• European Association of Nuclear Medicine

• Production of radioisotopes, the nuclear reaction yields, radiochemical separations and the quality control
• Radiolabelling cells (Red blood cells, lymphocytes, lymphoid cells, epithelial cells etc.)
• Synthesis of radiolabelled compounds (Pt-based antitumour compounds, Au-antiarthritic drugs, Tc-99m-compounds, Co-Bleomicine etc.
• Preparation and in vivo imaging of pharmaceutical formulations
• Pharmacokinetics of radiolabelled compounds in animal models