Ranbaxy Science Foundation (RSF), a non-profit organization set-up by Ranbaxy Laboratories (Ranbaxy), announced its 27th Annual Research Awards for the year 2011 to Indian Scientists in recognition of their outstanding research contributions made in the fields of medical and pharmaceutical sciences. The foundation also announced its 6th annual science scholar awards to the young and brilliant upcoming new generation of scientists.

The awards were presented by the internationally acclaimed scientist, Prof. Dhavendra Kumar, consultant in Clinical Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK, at a special function held on February 04, 2013 at New Delhi. Ranbaxy's chairman, Dr Tsutomu Une, Padma Shri awardee Dr Nitya Anand, chairman of RSF, Mr Arun Sawhney, CEO and MD, Ranbaxy and Dr Sudershan Arora, president, R&D, Ranbaxy also addressed the gathering. A total of four scientists and four science scholars were honored with the awards.

Category: Medical Sciences - Basic Research

Prof. Tapas Kumar Kundu, transcription and disease laboratory, molecular biology and genetics unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research

• Significant contributions in the area of epigenetics and gene regulation with special emphasis on disease. He has also developed a nano device to induce acetylation of histones in the mice brain which could be highly useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Category: Medical Sciences - Medical Research

Dr Satish Kumar Gupta, deputy director, National Institute of Immunology (NII) and chief, reproductive cell biology laboratory, NII

• Outstanding contributions to the understanding of the molecular basis of mammalian fertilization.
  

Category: Clinical Research

Prof. Arun J Sanyal of Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine

• Pioneering work in the areas of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cirrhosis. NAFLD affects over a third of the population and independently increases the risk of cirrhosis, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Category: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr Navin Khanna, senior scientist and group leader, mammalian biology:recombinant gene products, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

• Contribution in the development of novel recombinant designer proteins as inexpensive, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic intermediates for viral infections.

Among the four research scholars who were awarded under different categories include:

Biomedical Sciences:

• Mr Manish Goyal, senior research fellow, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology
• Ms Seema C Parte, senior research fellow, Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health

Pharmaceutical Sciences:

• Mr Pawar Yogesh Bapurao, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
• Ms Aakanchha Jain, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr Hari Singh Gour University.