Zakir Ramazanov
1955-2006
Dr. Zakir Ramazanov was born in the former Soviet Union. In 1978, he received his undergraduate degree from Caucasian State University with a double major in biochemistry and plant physiology. He graduated at the top of his class with a special golden diploma. Later that year, he enlisted in the Soviet Army and served A Tour of duty in Afghanistan. He first learned of Rhodiola rosea from a fellow soldier, whose mother sent him packets of the powdered herb to improve stamina.
Upon his return to civilian life, Dr. Zakir Ramazanov served as Head Engineer at the Institute of Solar Energy of the Soviet Union. There he designed and constructed solar batteries and solar energy stations for potential use on orbiting space stations and in deserts, as well as solar bioreactors for the cultivation of Dunaliella, Chlorella, Spirulina and other algae
Dr. Ramazanov became Senior Scientist and Chief of the Department Of Biotechnology of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. He was also Deputy Chairman of Biotechnological Programs for the Development of Aquatic Biotechnology for Medicine and Food in East European and Asian Countries. During this period, he developed new methods of cultivating algae for human consumption.
Dr Ramazanov left the Soviet Union in 1989, and worked with Professor Goran Samuelsson at the University of Umea in Sweden. He researched the intracellular mechanisms of carbon dioxide assimilation by aquatic plants and the biochemistry of cell adaptation to low and high carbon dioxide stress. In 1990, Dr. Ramazanov became Research Professor of Plant Biochemistry at the Universidad de Cordoba in Spain.
In 1991, Dr. Ramazanov moved to the US to work as a research fellow with Professor James Moroney at Louisiana State University Baton Rouge. In late 1991, Dr. Ramazanov joined the Canary Islands-based Institute of Technology and Marine Sciences, becoming the Institute's Director of Science. During the next four years, he developed eight plant-based dietary ingredients and authored several books.
In the following years, Dr. Ramazanov founded National Bioscience Corporation, a NY Corporation, where he remained the President and the principal owner until his unexpected death in 2005. During these years he became a prominent figure in the US Dietary Supplement Industry. He became known for his rigorous scientific approach to areas where industry practice was often driven by marketing hysteria, unsubstantiated claims and lack of itegrity.
In 2007, following his tragic death, a group of his colleagues established The Ramazanov Award Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving credibility of the US Dietary Supplement Industry ( http://www.ramazanovaward.org )
Dr. Ramazanov received grants from:
• The Swedish National Science Foundation, the Swedish Institute of Natural Science, and the Swedish Royal Academy of Science, Umea University (1989)
• Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Universidad de Cordoba (1990)
• SAREC, Sweden (scientific collaboration between Swedish and African Countries), University of Dar Es-Salaam, Marine Science Institute of Zanzibar, Republic of Tanzania (1991)
• Universidad de Autonoma de Madrid, Spain (1993)
• Universidad Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (1993)
• United States USAID for Development of Biotechnology Project in Central Africa (1993)
• National Science Foundation (USA), Louisiana State University (1994)
Dr. Ramazanov's achievements and contributions include:
• advancements in lycopene extraction technology
• extraction and standardization of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables
• advancements in cultivation of Spirulina
• introduction of Siberian Rhodiola rosea, pomegranate extract, and algae-derived carotenoid fucoxanthin to the North American marketplace
• five science and technology patents
• over 140 peer-reviewed articles
• contribution to a number of books including "The Rhodiola Revolution; Transform Your Health with the Herbal Breakthrough of the 21st Century" by Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg, Barbara Graham.
Additional resources:
1. http://rhodiolarosea.org/bio.htm
2. Books by Zakir Ramazanov on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/105-7050829-1148414?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Zakir%20Ramazanov
3. Ramazanov Award Foundation: http://www.ramazanovaward.org