7 scientists and 4 young scholars honoured with awards.
Ranbaxy Science Foundation (RSF), a non-profit organization set-up by Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), today announced its 20th Annual Research Awards for the year 2007 to Indian Scientists in recognition of their outstanding research contributions made in the fields of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Foundation also announced its 2nd Annual Science Scholar Awards to the young and brilliant upcoming new generation of scientists.
The Awards were presented by renowned scientist and policymaker Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Fellow of the Royal Society, London, Advisor, Indian Space Research Organization, formerly Minister of State for Science & Technology, Govt. of India, at a special function held today at the All India Medical Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi.
A total of 7 Scientists and 4 Science Scholars were honoured with the awards.
Ranbaxy Research Awards 2007
Medical Sciences – Basic Research
Prof. Bhanu P. Jena, Distinguished Professor, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA for his pioneering discovery of a new cellular structure -the “porosome”, the universal secretory machinery in cells, and for the general molecular mechanism underlying cell secretion
Prof. Namita Surolia, Professor, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Bangalore for her contribution towards understanding parasite biology and discovery of protein, heme and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways in Plasmodium falciparum
Medical Sciences – Medical Research
Prof. Sampath Parthasarathy, Klassen Chair and Professor of Surgery, Professor of Internal Medicine and Professor of Human Nutrition
The Ohio State University Medical Center, U.S.A. for his contributions in advancing knowledge in cardiovascular sciences by discovering oxidized low density lipoprotein and the scheme of events responsible for early atherosclerosis
Dr. Ajit Varki, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Medicine for his contributions in understanding the chemistry, biology, evolution and biomedical relevance of Sialic Acids and Sialic Acid-recognizing proteins
Medical Sciences – Clinical Research
Dr Lalit Kumar, Professor of Medical Oncology, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for his outstanding contributions in the application of stem cell transplantation in oncology and other medical disorders
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Anil Gulati, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy, USA for his contributions in advancing the field of endothelin (ET) and its possible applications
Dr. Arabinda Chaudhuri, Scientist E-II and Project Leader, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad for his contributions in advancing the knowledge of efficient non-viral transfection vectors towards ensuring the clinical success of gene therapy
Ranbaxy Science Scholars-2008
Ms. Mridula Nambiar, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for her research work “Characterization of the Molecular Mechanism of Chromosomal Translocations in Lymphoma and Leukemia”.
Ms. Sagarika Haldar, PhD Student, Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for her research work “Development and validation of improved assays for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis”.
Dr. Tulika Prasad, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for her research work “Finding Novel Strategies to combat drug resistance in Candida
Mr. Umesh Gupta, Senior Research Fellow (ICMR), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar (M. P.) for his research work “Polypropylene imine dendrimer mediated solubility enhancement: effect of pH and functional groups of hydrophobes”.
Ranbaxy Research Awards and Ranbaxy Science Scholar Awards
The Ranbaxy Research Awards aim to encourage, recognize and reward excellence in original research work in the fields of Medical and Pharmaceutical sciences by Indian scientists. The efforts of the Foundation have contributed significantly towards driving superior quality of research in India and motivating the scientific community to continue to perform for excellence in science and research. Each Research Award carries a citation, trophy and a cash incentive of Rs. 1 lac.
Beginning 2007, the Foundation also instituted Ranbaxy Science Scholar Awards with an aim to recognize and reward the brilliant and young science scholars in order to stimulate their interest in research. Each Science Scholar Award carries a certificate and a scholarship of Rs. 50,000/-.
The Foundation also organized its XV Annual Symposium on the topic “Hormonal Receptors and Women’s Health” on this occasion. Eminent scientists from across the world deliberated on various issues related to various aspects of women’s health like reproduction, contraception and malignancies including other medical conditions.
Ranbaxy Science Foundation, presently chaired by Dr. Nitya Anand, is a non-profit organization, promoted by India’s largest pharmaceutical company, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited. RSF aims to encourage scientific endeavour in the country by rewarding excellence in medical and pharmaceutical research and channeling national and international knowledge and expertise. Among the prime activities it undertakes every year are presenting Ranbaxy Research Awards to the Indian scientists for outstanding research work and Ranbaxy Science Scholarship Awards to the young and brilliant science scholars, presenting special award for outstanding work in the field of public health, holding of Scientific Symposia in front line areas of research, inviting Foreign Scientists as Visiting Professors, holding Round Table Conferences on topics of public health concern and publishing the proceedings of symposia and Round Table Conferences.
