New Delhi: Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad today presented the ICMR Awards to 51 outstanding clinical and biomedical scientists for the years 2009 and 2010 for their work in communicable and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health and various other medical and biomedical fields. The JALMA Trust Fund Oration award for 2007 has also been presented this year.
While 9 Awardees are from PGI, Chandigarh, 7 from ICMR Institutions, 5 Awardees are from AIIMS and 3 each from DRDO and KGMU, Lucknow, 2 each from NIMHANS, Bangalore, CSIR and Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Trivandrum and the remaining 18 belong to other Institutions. The ICMR Awards are bestowed based on the quality of knowledge generated, as judged by peers in the scientific field.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. The Council`s research priorities are undertaken with a view to reduce the total burden of disease and to promote health and well-being of the population.
Recognizing the contribution made by the biomedical scientists in various spheres of research, the ICMR has instituted various awards and prizes. ICMR started the tradition of honouring biomedical-scientists in 1953; beginning with “Basanti Devi Amir Chand Award†for senior scientists and “Shakuntala Amir Chand Award†for young scientists, and it is the 60th ICMR Awards function in honour of scientists. The awards recognize the contribution of young scientists as well as those who work in the underdeveloped parts of the country.