Autar Singh Paintal

Who was Autar Singh Paintal?

Autar Singh Paintal M.D. Ph.D. was a medical scientist who has made pioneering discoveries in the area of neurosciences and respiratory sciences.

He is a merit student and did his postgraduation in Physiology from King George Medical College, Lucknow.

He completed his Ph.D under the supervision of David Whitteridge in Edinburgh.

His major contribution to the world of Science is the development of single-fiber technique for recording afferent impulses from individual sensory receptors. Paintal discovered several sensory receptors including atrial B receptors, pulmonary J-receptors, ventricular pressure receptors, stomach stretch receptors, and muscle pain receptors. They have set the beginning of new era in physiological understanding.

Paintal returned to India in 1953 and joined All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He later became Director of the Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute. He was also the first Principal of University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi. He subsequently elevated to Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. He was also the founder president of Society of Scientific Values.