BRIEF NOTE
Prof K. K. Deepak (MD, PhD, DSc) is heading the Department of Physiology and is Dean (Exams) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He set up the first Autonomic Function Lab in India (1989) and Vascular Function lab (2000). He initiated clinical physiology in the country. He significantly contributed to the manpower development in the country in the field. Its impact is seen in the form of number of publications in the field of autonomic neurosciences and development of clinical services in the country.
The Autonomic Function lab, founded in 1989 provides clinical services, research facility and training. He pioneered the development of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and disseminated it throughout the country. His team has developed a cloud-based system for centralized HRV system. With IIT Delhi, he developed device for blood pressure recording to be used for continuous blood pressure recording.
He has been interested in innovations in medical research and worked with Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) & other engineering institutions. He devised blood pressure simulation model. He also devised the techniques of EMG biofeedback for patients of hand dystonia and electro-gastro-graphy (EGG) biofeedback for irritable bowel syndrome. He has worked on brain stimulation by using vagal stimulation and yogic breathing. He has contributed to basic research in the field of Yoga & Meditation and its clinical application. He is also investigating the role of yogic manoeuvres for their applications during space and gravitational exposures.
He delivered several invited talks in various countries including UIC Peoria (1991), Harvard Medical School (2009), UCSD, San Diego (2016, 2018) and Graz, Austria (2019). He has been instrumental in bringing the MOU between AIIMS New Delhi and UCSD, San Diego,USA and with NIT Jallandhar for pursuing space physiology research. His group is pursuing research in the field of space physiology involving lower body negative and positive pressure (LBNP, LBPP) and tilting protocols.
His interest in space physiology and Yoga resulted in development of innovative devices.
He has filed a patent for a pro-gravity body gear to create gravity during microgravity exposure in 2016 and same has been published in 2018. This pro-gravity body gear was used in earth-based experiments on microgravity. He is co-inventor in 5 more patents filing pertaining to isometric exercise, human muscular fatigue recording and space physiology. He is interested in modelling human systems.
As a recognition of his efforts to apply physiology to human health, last year he was invited to Chair the committee to finalize various Physical activity and their assessment protocols under FIT India program of GOI (2020). The age-appropriate protocols are available on Fit India website. Now the Indian App (By GOI) has been launched based on these Fitness protocols and guidelines.
He has significantly contributed in the field of Medical Education (pedagogic contribution) and published. He has published 200 peer reviewed research papers which have 3800 citations with H index of 32 (Jan 2022).