A successful seientific career requires constant effort on the part of the seientist. If such a career is to be achieved by seientists in developing countries where the faeilities are not easily available, even more dedication is required. Dr. K. M. Sivanandaiah, having completed a successful career in the field of peptide chemistry, is such a seientist. Being weIl aware of the limited research facilities available in India, we are extraordinarily appreciative of Professor Sivanandaiah's dedication to the advancement of science. As a Professor of Chemistry and, until his retirement in 1992, the Head of the Department of Studies in Chemistry at Bangalore University, India, he not only devoted much of his time to his students, teaching basic organic chemistry, but was also able to contribute to the field of peptide chemistry. After completing 25 years of service at Central College, Bangalore, where he was admired as an outstanding teacher, Professor Sivanandaiah is still active in research. He is now Professor Emeritus and continues to contribute to the field of peptides. As former students of Professor Sivanandaiah, we felt that publishing a book containing articles related to the design, synthesis, conformation, and biological activity of peptides and written by eminent scientists in the field of peptide research would be a fitting tribute to his role in the field of bioorganic chemistry.