Dr. Rao is a world-renowned geneticist from India who developed a serum called "Hope" which could "cure" mutants, turning them back into into normal humans.

Hundreds of mutants immediately signed up for the procedure at Benetech Labs. One of the first was a little girl Tildie that was being kept under her supervision to Be used as an experiment to see if the cure is affective. The X-Men debated the merits of the cure and the significance of labeling the mutant condition a disease. particulary Beast who saw as a chance at removing his "beastly" appearance and avoiding any further secondary mutations held which made him considered taking the serum.

It was later revealed that Rao had been fact working for the alien Ord of the Breakworld who also had in his custody Colossus who was at that time, thought to be dead. The X-Men defeated Ord and Benetech, Ord was Then delivered into the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D.. most of Dr. Rao's work was destroyed by Wolverine, leaving Beast with the last sample of "Hope".