Dr. Praveen Kumar Vemula
Prof. Praveen Vemula has been selected as winner of 2025 Sun Pharma Science Foundation Research Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, for his contributions in translational research by developing chemical biology-based technologies for medical applications.
Vemula is representative of a nascent community of researchers, in academia, who fill the gap between chemistry and biology using creative and innovative approaches. His strength lies in taking established chemistry and bringing it to address a challenging and open question in the biological/clinical space. Some of the outcomes of Vemula lab’s endeavours in the area of fundamental and translational research are as follows: Vemula’s team has seamlessly adopted the “biomimicry-based drug discovery” method and developed “first-in-class” new chemical entities (NCEs) to repair the leaky gut. This platform NCEs regenerate the gut to prevent gut barrier-dysfunction associated diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Additionally, his lab has developed novel blood bags to enhance the quality of stored blood, and Kisan Kavach, an anti-pesticide suit to deactivate pesticides to protect farmers from lethality, and a germicidal fabric to create antiviral masks. Based on his technologies he has formed 8 startup companies. Thus far, >25 products that are developed based on his technologies are in the market worldwide and have reached to millions of people.
Dr. Govind K Makharia
Dr. Govind K Makharia has been selected as Winner of 2025 Sun Pharma Science Foundation Research Fellowship for Medical Sciences (Clinical Research) in recognition for his understanding and management of Celiac Disease, particularly in India & Asia, where the disease was once considered rare. Dr. Makharia is a distinguished clinical researcher and a global leader in the field of Celiac Disease. Currently a Professor at the Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, his work has transformed the understanding and management of Celiac Disease, particularly in India & Asia, where the disease was once considered rare. Through extensive research, Dr. Makharia has demonstrated that Celiac Disease is prevalent in India at rates comparable to that in USA and Europe, challenging existing misconceptions. His pioneering studies, such as the North India, Pan-India, and Migrant Study, have shown significant regional variations in Celiac Disease prevalence across India, with the highest rates in the North, correlating with wheat consumption patterns. Dr. Makharia’s work led to the establishment of national guidelines for Celiac Disease diagnosis and management in India and has shaped global research initiatives, including the Pan-Asia study and a worldwide meta-analysis, which have brought much-needed attention to the global burden of Celiac Disease. Apart from clinical research, Dr. Makharia has contributed significantly to improving Celiac Disease diagnosis and patient care.
Dr. Makharia has been involved in various leadership roles in both global and regional professional organizations and have developed many global, Asian and Indian practice guidelines on various gastrointestinal diseases which have been widely appreciated and adopted. His leadership roles in global and regional gastroenterology organizations, coupled with his extensive academic output, have made him a key figure in advancing gastroenterological practice. Being a member of various committees of academic institutions, either as the chairman or a member, he has guided national research programs and policy matters.
As Secretary General and then as the president of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, he initiated and nurtured many educational activities such as Young Clinician Program, Gastroenterology Young Masters, Train the Trainers, Masterclasses and a physician outreach program in addition to other organizational activities, and thus has transformed the functioning of Indian Society of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Amit Awasthy
Dr. Amit Awasthi has been selected as Winner of 2025 Sun Pharma Science Foundation Research Fellowship for Medical Sciences (Basic Research) in recognition for his contributions to understand interplay between effector and regulatory T cells inflammatory conditions. He has significantly advanced the understanding of T cell biology in inflammation, infection, and cancer. His pioneering work on T helper cell subsets has provided fundamental insights into the molecular regulation of immune responses and their therapeutic potential in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Dr. Awasthi’s research has transformed our understanding of how the immune system balances protection and inflammation. He made a landmark discovery of a special type of immune cell called Th9 cells—a subset of helper T cells that produce a molecule known as interleukin-9 (IL-9). His pioneering studies revealed how these cells develop and how they influence inflammation, allergies, infections, and even cancer. Dr. Awasthi also uncovered the key role of a protein called Foxo1, which acts as a “master switch” that controls IL-9 production. By turning this switch off, his group showed that immune-driven airway inflammation could be reduced in diseases such as asthma and viral infections, including COVID-19. This breakthrough uncovered a previously unknown link between Foxo1, IL-9, and respiratory inflammation, opening new possibilities for developing therapies for asthma, allergies, and other lung diseases.
His laboratory is actively investigating the immunological crosstalk between immune and tumor cells to uncover mechanisms that enhance antitumor immunity. His recent studies revealed that dietary salt can modulate immune activation, promoting a more robust antitumor immune response. This work highlights a novel link between metabolic and environmental factors and immune function, opening new avenues for developing adjunct immunotherapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment outcomes.