Ponduri Venkata Ramana Rao (Telugu: పొండురి వెంకట రమణ రావు; 3 April 1917 – 13 April 2005) was an Indian microbiologist. He was born at Rajupalem in Ongole district (now Prakasam district). He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Government Arts College, Rajamundry in 1937 and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam in 1944. He was in Army Medical Service between 1944 and 1947 and worked as Regimental Medical Officer and Field Ambulance Officer (Army) in the Second World War.