Professor (Dr.) R. K. Kale is presently the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat (CUG), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. He has been establishing this University since March 2009. Earlier, he was working as Professor in School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He is involved in teaching and research in Cancer and Radiation Biology, since 1981. He published more than 105 research papers in national and international scientific peer-reviewed journals. He guided research work of 32 students leading to award of M.Phil/Ph.D. Degree. He also greatly contributed in the area of higher education and society. His novel contribution in free radicals and radiation research includes the hypothesis to improve the radiation therapy of cancer by employing suitable metals-based chemomodulation; which led to the award of ICMR PRIZE for Biomedical Research – 1996. The national award is given by the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi for his original contribution in biomedical research. Further, he has also proposed another hypothesis, ‘the Free Radicals are likely to be generated in post-irradiation period continuously in biological systems’. In view of this, we may have to reconsider our understanding of the effect of ionizing radiation. Free Radical formation in post-irradiation period may have serous implication in radiation therapy, carcinogenesis, space traveling, health physics and radiation protection as well as post-nuclear accident care. This hypothesis also provides explanation for the abscopal effect of radiation. He did B.Sc. (1973) and M.Sc. (1975) in Chemistry from Marathwada University (Presently, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University), Aurangabad, and Ph.D. (1980) in Life Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
He has extensive experience in University Administration and Planning.  He has officiated on number of occasions as the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of JNU.  He served the JNU as a Dean of School of Life Sciences, Dean of Students, Chief Proctor, Chief Advisor or Equal Opportunity Office, Proctor and Provost.  He has been member of Executive Council, Academic Council and Court of the University, many times.  He has also been nominated twice as a Member of the Executive Council of JNU by the President of India.