͵͵

In Memoriam

In memoriam: Sampath Parthasarathy

ASBMB Today Staff
April 18, 2022

Sampath Parthasarathy, a lipid scientist and cardiovascular researcher at the University of Central Florida, died of pneumonia on Dec. 1, 2020, the ͵͵ and ͵͵ Biology learned recently. He was 73. 

Sampath Parthasarathy

Born Dec. 27, 1947, in India, Parthasarathy earned his Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and was a postdoctoral fellow at Kyoto University in Japan, Duke University and the University of Minneapolis. He held positions at the University of California, San Diego, Emory University, Louisiana State University and Ohio State University before joining the faculty of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in 2011, where he held an endowed chair in cardiovascular sciences and served as the associate dean for research. He was also is an inventor and held an MBA in technology management. 

A recognized expert in lipids, Parthasarathy was credited with the co-discovery, while at UCSD, that oxidized low-density lipoprotein is involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The on this finding is one of the most cited in atherosclerosis research. He also studied the beneficial effects of exercise and dietary polyunsaturated fats such as . He researched both pro- and antioxidants in the context of multiple inflammatory diseases, including diabetes, endometriosis, Alzheimer’s and Crohn’s, “always approaching scientific challenges from novel (outside-the-box) perspectives, connecting the dots, and finding parallels that were inconspicuous to others,” according to a in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 

In addition to being an ASBMB member, Parthsarathy was involved with the American Heart Association, the South Asian Society for Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis and other societies. He served as editor-in-chief of the journal Healthcare, as co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medicinal Food, and on the editorial boards of numerous other journals, including the Journal of Lipid Research. Fondly known as “Dr. Sam,” he mentored more than 300 students, postdocs, clinical residents and junior investigators from around the world.

Parthsarathy was preceded in death by his first wife, Kalyani. He is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Raghuveer and Bharath Parthasarathy, and their wives; and five grandchildren.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
ASBMB Today Staff

This article was written by a member or members of the ASBMB Today staff.

Related articles

In memoriam: Horst Schulz
Manfred Philipp
In memoriam: Bengt Samuelsson
Christopher Radka
In memoriam: William L. Smith
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
In memoriam: Charles Rock
Naushin Raheema

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Meet Robert Helsley
Interview

Meet Robert Helsley

March 6, 2025

The Journal of Lipid Research junior associate editor studies chronic liver disease and was the first in his family to attend college.

Exploring life’s blueprint: Gene expression in development and evolution
In-person Conference

Exploring life’s blueprint: Gene expression in development and evolution

March 3, 2025

Meet Julia Zeitlinger and David Arnosti — two co-chairs of the ASBMB’s 2025 meeting on gene expression, to be held June 26-29, in Kansas City, Missouri.

ASBMB names 2025 fellows
Announcement

ASBMB names 2025 fellows

Feb. 17, 2025

͵͵ and ͵͵ Biology honors 24 members for their service to the society and accomplishments in research, education, mentorship, diversity and inclusion and advocacy.

When Batman meets Poison Ivy
Science Communication

When Batman meets Poison Ivy

Feb. 13, 2025

Jessica Desamero had learned to love science communication by the time she was challenged to explain the role of DNA secondary structure in halting cancer cell growth to an 8th-grade level audience.

The monopoly defined: Who holds the power of science communication?
Essay

The monopoly defined: Who holds the power of science communication?

Feb. 12, 2025

“At the official competition, out of 12 presenters, only two were from R2 institutions, and the other 10 were from R1 institutions. And just two had distinguishable non-American accents.”

In memoriam: Donald A. Bryant
In Memoriam

In memoriam: Donald A. Bryant

Feb. 10, 2025

He was a professor emeritus at Penn State University who discovered how cyanobacteria adapt to far-red light and was a member of the ͵͵ and ͵͵ Biology for over 35 years.