After 39 years, Kolkata scientist wins Bhatnagar award for med research

KOLKATA: After a gap of 39 years, a researcher from Bengal has been awarded the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar for work in medical sciences. Dipyaman Ganguly, a principal scientist at CSIR-IICB and a medical graduate from Medical College Hospital Kolkata, was conferred the Bhatnagar award for his work on autoimmunity and metaflammation. The citation also referred to his plasma therapy research during Covid.

CM Mamata Banerjee in a statement on X said, "Congratulations to Dr Dipyaman Ganguli, Immunologist, IICB, for getting the prestigious Bhatnagar Award for his pathbreaking works relating to covid research. The Bhatnagar award comes in the health-related field to a scientist from Bengal after several years. Best wishes, Doc!"

Ganguly did his PhD in biotechnology, a second PhD in immunology from MD Anderson Cancer Centre, and his post-doctoral degree from Columbia University, New York. He returned to India in 2013 and joined CSIR-IICB Kolkata where he started his journey in immunology research.

Among the recent research initiatives the immunologist collaborated on was during the Covid-19 pandemic when randomised control trials of plasma were being done on Covid patients. The research was published in Lancet.

"Bengal had a rich legacy in medical science research starting from Sambhunath Dey on cholera pathogen. But of late, research in medical science has taken a back seat. I hope this kind of recognition brings bright young clinicians into the fold and medical science research is given much required focus," said Ganguly.

"During the lockdown we had to convert a scrap room in our Salt Lake unit into a swanky brand new lab for the research. We have a few more very able clinicians. Such awards should inspire us to carry out research activities which can make an impact. We will try to arrange funds and maintain a good ecosystem to facilitate their research," said Arun Bandyopadhyay, director, CSIR-IICB Kolkata.

The last time a Kolkata-based scientist was recognised with the same award in medical research was in 1984 when DK Ganguly, also from IICB, bagged the award for neuroscience.

The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, instituted in memory of the first director general of CSIR, is usually announced on the foundation day of the institution on September 26.

Among the awardees this year, at least two other researchers also have links with Bengal. Debabrata Maiti of IIT-Bombay, who has been awarded for contributions to developing transition-metal catalysis did his schooling in Bengal. Basudeb Dasgupta of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai who has won the award in the physical sciences category, had studied physics in Jadavpur University from 2000-2003. Both the scientists could not be reached for comments.