Two distinguished professors from Panjab University's Department of Zoology have been honoured with prestigious national awards for their exceptional contributions to the field of parasitology. The accolades were presented during the 33rd National Congress of the Indian Society for Parasitology, a landmark event that also celebrated the Society's golden jubilee.
National Recognition at a Golden Jubilee Event
The significant honours were conferred at a major scientific gathering held at the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow. The event took place from November 26 to 28, bringing together experts from across the country. The congress was particularly special as it marked 50 years of the Indian Society for Parasitology, highlighting a half-century of advancements in the study of parasites and their impact on health and ecosystems.
Honouring a Legacy in Teaching and Research
Professor Sukhbir Kaur was the recipient of the esteemed Dr. B.P. Pandey Memorial Oration Award. This award specifically recognises outstanding contributions to parasitology education and pedagogy. During the congress, she delivered a keynote oration focusing on integrative strategies to combat leishmaniasis, a serious parasitic disease.
Her extensive research portfolio is centred on developing new solutions for visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. This includes pioneering work on vaccine development and exploring novel therapeutic agents. A key area of her current investigation involves innovative formulations that utilise TLR7/8 and NOD2 agonists to boost the immune response against the parasite. Professor Sukhbir Kaur is presently leading an ICMR-funded research project in collaboration with NIPER Mohali.
Celebrating Excellence in Parasite Taxonomy
The second awardee, Professor Harpreet Kaur Bimbrah, was presented with the Dr. Kona Hanumantha Rao Memorial Oration Award. This award honours her significant and dedicated work in the domain of parasite taxonomy and biodiversity.
Her research has been instrumental in systematically documenting the diversity of parasitic organisms. A major achievement includes the cataloguing of approximately 130 different species of myxozoan parasites found in freshwater fish across India. Furthermore, her work has led to the discovery and description of new species of tapeworms and acanthocephalan parasites. Professor Bimbrah is also actively researching amphistome parasites that affect livestock, contributing to veterinary health sciences.
Student Achievements Add to the Glory
Adding to the department's pride, two research scholars from Professor Sukhbir Kaur's team also earned recognition at the same conference. Sandeep Kaur and Shivani Thakur were awarded for the best oral presentation and best poster presentation, respectively. This double success underscores the vibrant and high-quality research environment nurtured within the university's zoology department.
The national awards bestowed upon Professors Sukhbir Kaur and Harpreet Kaur Bimbrah highlight Panjab University's position as a leading centre for advanced parasitological research in India. Their work, spanning from cutting-edge disease intervention strategies to fundamental biodiversity documentation, addresses critical challenges in both human and animal health, showcasing the profound real-world impact of academic excellence.
