|
 Vipin K. Garg, PhD is the President and CEO of Tranzyme Pharma. Tranzyme is a late stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of first-in-class small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of both acute care (hospital-based) and chronic conditions with significant unmet medical need.
Under Dr. Garg’s leadership, Tranzyme has raised more than $50M to date and has advanced two products into clinical development. In 2005, Tranzyme was named one of the top 15 emerging biotechnology companies by FierceBiotech, a leading industry newsletter, and in 2006, Tranzyme’s lead product was featured as one of the five most promising new drugs to enter clinical development by Thomson Pharma’s report, “The Ones to Watch”. In March of last year Tranzyme’s drug, TZP-101, was recognized as one of the “100 Great Investigational Drugs – 2009” by R&D Directions.
Dr. Garg is the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award in the Carolinas, and has been recognized as a proven entrepreneur as a result of his innovative thinking and business acumen. Dr. Garg is also deeply committed to his family, his business and his community. Under Dr. Garg’s direction, Tranzyme has become an international innovator and developer of drugs for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
|
|
 Dr. Jayant Baliga, inventor of a power saving switch that prevents 1.4 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year, at a cost savings of $300 billion in power generation. We use Baliga's technology every time we run our cars, power up a computer or switch on the air conditioning. He has authored 15 books and more than 500 scientific articles. Over 100 US patents have been awarded to him. Scientific American has named Baliga, one of eight heroes of the semiconductor revolution. The University of North Carolina's Board of Governors presented him with the O. Max Gardner award in 1998, which recognizes the member of the 16-university UNC system who has made "the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race". At the age of 45 he was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, the highest honor in the engineering profession. ApnaTriangle takes the pride to sit and discuss with Dr.Baliga about his journey, Read more:
|
|
 Dr. Mansukh C. Wani is a co-discoverer of the anti-cancer agents Taxol® and Camptothecin that have saved millions of lives. In 2002, 33% of the total anti-cancer drug market (nearly 3 billion dollars revenue) was due to from these 2 agents or its analogs. Dr. Wani is recipient of many awards, including Bruce F. Cain Memorial award from American Association for Cancer Research, Charles F. Kettering Prize from General Motors Cancer Research Foundation (considered as Nobel Prize of cancer research). In 2003, American Chemical Society designated the discovery of Camptothecin and Taxol® at the Research Triangle Institute a National Historic Chemical Landmark. Dr. Wani is a very humble individual and a great scientist. ApnaTriangle is honored to sit with him and discuss his exhilarating journey.
|
|
 Mr. Harish Mathur, also known as Hari H Nath was the founder and the CEO of Technology Planning and Management Corporation (TPMC), an IT Planning, Software Development and associated services firm. TPMC grew from a one person firm in 1987 to 250 IT professionals by 2000. Since his retirement in 2001, Mr. Harish Mathur, a modest man with forethought qualities has been involved in a number of social projects and non-profits in the US as well as India. He is a member of the Board of The Carying Place, a nonprofit organization providing transitional housing to the underemployed in Cary. He is also the President of the Carolinas Region for Ekal Vidyalaya, an NGO providing basic education to Tribal children in India.
|
|
 Mr. Sajjan Agarwal is the founder of Sigma Electric, a 1500 employee company with head quarters in Raleigh and 5 manufacturing plants in India. He is the advisor of Pratham. He is major donor of Pratham, Ekal Vidyalaya, and HSNC. He has been honored for his community services by Heritage India of NC. He is very active in every aspects of Indian community. He has also been very active in social activities in India and is currently providing support to 200 college students in India. He is also involved in a non-profit organization, which lends small loans to over 4000 under privileged people. He did his MBA from Michigan State University in 1978. He lived in Detroit from 1978 to 1981 and in New Orleans from 1981 to 1992. He came to the Triangle in 1992.
|
|
 Dr. Sudha Om Dhingra is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of Hindi language. She is the president of Vibhom Enterprises. She has authored nine books, recorded one CD and an audio cassette. She has also contributed poems and stories to nine books. She has hosted numerous kavi sammelans, kavi ghoshti's and cultural programs. She has established Vibhutee, an organization to help disadvantaged and distraught women, children and senior citizens in USA. She is editor of the Hindi Chetna, a magazine published by the Hindi Pracharini Sabha, Canada. She is the USA representative of Pravasi Today, published from Delhi, India, and a columnist for Vishva magazine(USA) , daily news paper Punjab Kesari, Hind Samachar, and Jagvani published from Jalandhar, Punjab, India. She is on the board of trustees of Hindi Vikas Mandal and National coordinator & Board of Director of International Hindi Association. She is also the cutural attache of Radio Sabrang, Denmark. She is also a member of the Pratham NC core committee. Her poems, stories, interviews, and articles are published in numerous online and International print magazines. She has received numerous awards from local and international organizations for her service to community and hindi literature. She came to US in 1982 and she is living in Triangle area since 1991. Here are some excerpts from my discussion with Dr. Sudha Om Dhingra
|
 Dr. Afroz Taj, professor of South Asian Languages and Cultures at UNC Chapel Hill, is a writer, poet, singer, and community leader. He has authored 3 books and a cyber-book. He produces a widely popular weekly radio program called Geet Bazaar that has thousands of listeners. He has been teaching university level Hindi and Urdu since 1983. He came to the Triangle area in 1995 to establish a pioneering program of teaching Hindi-Urdu through interactive videoconferencing for UNC and NCSU. His research interests include Hindi-Urdu poetry and poetics, Indian drama and musical theater, and the Indian cinema. Originally from Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh (near Mathura and Aligarh), he did his undergraduate and graduate studies from Aligarh Muslim University, and his Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, while he was at the University of Virginia. He is doing a great job in bringing the South Asian community together. Here is ApnaTriangle interview with Dr. Afroz Taj.
|
 Ramesh Mahalingam is President of Pratham USA. He co-founded the Pratham NC Chapter. Pratham is the largest non-profit organization working in the area of primary education in India. It is involved in helping sixty million children in over five hundred districts of India. It was seeded by UNICEF in 1994 and serves 21 states in India. Ramesh was born and grew up in Chennai. He spent several years working in Mumbai and has also lived in Singapore and Australia. He came to Raleigh in 2000 to work for Aventis CropScience as CFO of the North American business. He currently works for Sodexo as Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.
|
 Gangadhar Sharma and Saroj Sharma came to Raleigh in 1972. They founded Hindu Society of North Carolina in 1976. That put a foundation for a vibrant Indian community in Triangle area. The HSNC now has 1,100 members, 15 acres of land and 2 full time priests. It was my pleasure to meet them and discuss with them about HSNC and their involvement with Indian community.
|
|
